The statement followed similar actions from New York on Friday and Illinois on Monday and the city of San Francisco on Thursday. New York City Mayor Eric Adams also declared a local state of emergency on Monday. “California is working urgently at all levels of government to slow the spread of monkeypox, leveraging our robust testing, contact tracing and community partnerships strengthened during the pandemic to ensure those most at risk are our focus for vaccines, treatment and information,” Mr. Newsom said in a statement. “We will continue to work with the federal government to secure more vaccines, raise awareness about risk reduction, and stand with the LGBTQ community to fight stigma,” he added. The moves, which help streamline and coordinate the monkeypox response between different levels of government, come amid rising infections as well as growing complaints about the public health response.
What you need to know about monkeypox virus
Card 1 of 7 What is monkey pox? Monkeypox is a virus similar to smallpox, but the symptoms are less severe. It was discovered in 1958, after outbreaks in monkeys kept for research. The virus was found mainly in parts of Central and West Africa, but in recent weeks it has spread to dozens of countries and infected tens of thousands of people, the vast majority of them men who have sex with men. On July 23, the World Health Organization declared monkeypox a global health emergency. How does it spread? Monkeypox virus can be spread from person to person through close physical contact with infected lesions or blisters, by touching objects – such as clothing or bedding – that have previously touched the rash, or through respiratory droplets produced by coughing or sneezing. Monkeypox can also be transmitted from mother to fetus through the placenta or through close contact during and after birth. I’m afraid I might have smallpox. What should I do? There is no way to test for monkeypox if you only have flu symptoms. But if you start to notice red lesions, you should contact an urgent care center or your primary care doctor, who may order a monkeypox test. Isolate at home as soon as you develop symptoms and wear high-quality masks if you must come into contact with others for medical treatment. What is the treatment for monkey pox? If you do get sick, treatment for monkeypox generally involves managing the symptoms. Tecovirimat, an antiviral drug also known as TPOXX, may occasionally be used for severe cases. Jynneos vaccine, which protects against smallpox and monkeypox, can also help reduce symptoms, even if taken after exposure. I live in New York. Can I get the vaccine? Adult men who have sex with men and who have had multiple sexual partners in the past 14 days are eligible for vaccine in New York, as well as close contacts of infected people. Eligible individuals who have conditions that weaken the immune system or who have a history of dermatitis or eczema are also strongly encouraged to get vaccinated. People can make an appointment through this website. Nearly 6,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported nationwide since May, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with nearly half of those reported in California, Illinois and New York. The World Health Organization has already declared the virus a global health emergency. No deaths have been reported so far in the United States, and monkeypox is rarely fatal, but the rash caused by the virus has led to severe pain in some patients. The virus is spread primarily through prolonged physical contact, but can also be spread through shared linens and clothing, health officials say. Men who have sex with men make up about 99 percent of confirmed cases so far. Public health officials stress that the virus can spread to anyone who has prolonged skin-to-skin contact with a person who has the rash. The number of cases in the US is among the highest in the world, and health officials say the number is almost certainly an underestimate. Federal health officials say they have not yet declared a national health emergency, in part because monkeypox is a known disease with available tests, vaccines and treatments. But as the virus has spread and scientists have gathered research, the emerging picture has been a bit more complicated than in previous outbreaks, and pressure has intensified for more aggressive measures. Last week, President Biden’s health secretary urged states and municipalities to take more initiative, noting that most public health authority in the United States is concentrated at the local level. “We don’t control public health in the 50 states, territories and tribal jurisdictions,” Xavier Becerra, the secretary of Health and Human Services, said in response to a reporter’s question about whether the virus could be eradicated. “We rely on our partnership to work with them. They have to cooperate with us.” California’s emergency declaration will allow emergency medical workers to administer federally approved monkeypox vaccines. New York Gov. Kathy Hotchul issued an emergency declaration Friday, saying the move would pressure federal health officials to send additional monkeypox vaccines to the state. On Monday, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker followed suit, calling monkeypox “a rare but potentially serious disease that requires the full mobilization of all available public health resources.” Mr. Pritzker added that the effort will “ensure our LGBTQ+ community has the resources they need to stay safe while ensuring members are not stigmatized as they access critical health care.”
