California governor declares monkeypox state of emergency
Californias governor has declared a state of emergency to speed efforts to combat the monkeypox outbreak, becoming the second state in three days to take the step.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday said the declaration will help the state coordinate a government-wide response, seek more vaccines and lead outreach and education efforts on where people can get treatment and vaccines.
“Well continue to work with the federal government to secure more vaccines, raise awareness about reducing risk, and stand with the LGBTQ community fighting stigmatisation,” Newsom said in a statement announcing his declaration.
The monkeypox virus spreads through prolonged and close skin-to-skin contact, which can include hugging, cuddling and kissing, as well as through the sharing of bedding, towels and clothing. People getting sick so far have mainly been men who have sex with men, though health officials note that the virus can infect anyone.
“Public health officials are clear: stigma is unacceptable and counterproductive in public health response,” Michelle Gibbons, executive director of the County Health Executives Association of California said in a statement. “The fact is that monkeypox is primarily spread by skin to skin contact and sharing objects like bedding or towels, without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity.” The type of monkeypox virus identified in this outbreak is rarely fatal, and people usually recover within weeks. But the lesions and blisters caused by the virus are painful, and they can prevent swallowing or bowel movements if in the throat or anus.
The declaration in California came after a similar one in New York state on Saturday, and in San Francisco on Thursday. Newsoms administration had said as recently as Friday that it was too soon for such a declaration.
After pressing for Newsom to make such a declaration, Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco hailed the governors decision.
“The monkeypox outbreak is an emergency, and we need to use every tool we have to control it,” Wiener said.
Newsoms proclamation allows emergency medical personnel to administer monkeypox vaccines that are approved by the federal government.
Thats similar to a recent law that allows pharmacists to administer vaccines, Newsoms administration said. It said the states response is building on the steps developed during the coronavirus pandemic to set up vaccination clinics and make sure there is outreach to vulnerable populations in cooperation with local and community-based organisations.
California has received more than 61,000 vaccine doses and has distributed more than 25,000 doses.
“We dont have any time to waste,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in a statement. She said the nations most-populous county must use all available resources to speed the distribution of vaccines and help to those who have been infected.
Newsoms office said Los Angeles County has received a separate allocation of vaccine.
As of last week, the state had expanded its testing capacity to process more than 1,000 tests a week.
In San Francisco, Peter Tran was among hundreds who lined up sometimes for hours to receive the monkeypox vaccine at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on Monday after the clinic was forced to close last week because it did not receive enough doses.
“Its horrible. Like this is a vaccine thats been out for such a long time. And like, its not even a deadly disease. Its harder to be transmitted than COVID. But the rollout of the vaccines throughout this nation is absolutely horrible,” Tran said.
“I think the science shows that protection is greatly improved with the vaccine. So thats why Im doing it. And I honestly just dont want the lesions on my body. I heard the lesions are painful and leave scarring. So I think thats another motivation to go out and get it.” The city received about 4,000 doses on Friday and hopes to administer them by mid-week, said Dr. Lukejohn Day, chief medical officer at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.
The city had 305 cases as of Monday, he said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Federal staff and is auto-published from a syndicated feed.)