Riverside County Reports Nine More Monkeypox Cases, Total Now 234

(CNS) – Riverside County reported nine new confirmed or probable monkeypox cases Monday, raising the overall number to 234. Last week, the number of cases in the county was 201, up from 172 the previous week. A total of 115 probable or confirmed monkeypox cases have been reported in Palm Springs, making up almost half of the county’s aggregate count of 234, according to the latest Riverside University Health System data. RivCo Public Health today (9/12) is reporting nine new probable/confirmed MPX (Monkeypox) cases in the county. New Total is 234 case in Riverside County. See details by clicking data portal https://t.co/ypeMjmDnYm — Jose Arballo (@rivcohealthpio) September 12, 2022 The county’s first probable or confirmed case in a female was reported in mid-August. Its monkeypox statistics are available at http://www.rivcoph.org/mpx/Data — a dashboard that shares a breakdown of cases in the county with city-by-city data and more. The county declared a public health emergency in early August to focus attention on the virus. State and federal officials also proclaimed emergencies. According to health officials, the monkeypox vaccine can prevent infection if given before or shortly after exposure to the virus. The county is working with community partners to expand eligibility for the two-shot vaccines to include at-risk individuals, and to set up treatment sites with Tecovirimat – – an antiviral medication used to treat orthopoxvirus infections such as monkeypox. According to the latest RUHS data, the county has received a total of 7,304 doses of the monkeypox vaccine and a cumulative of 6,611 doses have been administered across the county. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health advise that the vaccine be prioritized for high- risk and exposed patients. Gay and bisexual men are at increased risk of contracting the virus, according to the CDC. The World Health Organization has declared monkeypox a "public health emergency of international concern." A total of 4,300 monkeypox cases have been confirmed in California — the highest of any state — while nationwide, the aggregate count is 21,894, according to the latest CDC data. Monkeypox is generally spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, resulting from infectious rashes and scabs, though respiratory secretions and bodily fluids exchanged during extended physical episodes such as sexual intercourse can lead to transmission, according to the CDC. Symptoms include pimples, blisters, rashes, fever and fatigue. There is no specific treatment. People who have been infected with smallpox, or have been vaccinated for it, may have immunity to monkeypox. People with symptoms are urged to visit a medical provider, cover the rash area with clothing, wear a mask and avoid close or skin-to-skin contact with others. The CDC particularly recommends those steps for people who recently traveled to an area where monkeypox cases have been reported or who have had contact with a confirmed or suspected monkeypox case. A full list of countries that have confirmed monkeypox cases is available at wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/alert/monkeypox. A state-by-state tally of cases is available at http://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/response/2022/us- map.html. Copyright 2022, City News Service, Inc.