SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – Attendees of large nightlife events over San Francisco's Pride weekend are being advised to look out for monkeypox symptoms.
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The San Francisco organization Comfort & Joy on Monday issued a health alert to people who attended its "Afterglow" event last month.
Comfort & Joy's Jarrod Stanley told KCBS Radio that event organizers alerted attendees after someone who was at the party reported testing positive for monkeypox.
"We're hearing from the medical professionals that early symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, flu-like symptoms that can occur within six to 14 days of exposure," he said. "So, if you were exposed at Pride, we're kind of getting into the window right about now where you might start seeing signs."
The organization wanted to get word out because people who paid cash at the door or bought tickets on the secondary market might not be receiving alerts. Stanley estimated that as many as 1,500 people were at the event.
Stanley also said other party organizers received a similar exposure notification and have been reaching out to people privately. The San Francisco Department of Public Health on Tuesday said that 40 people in the city had tested positive for the virus.
"If you were at any of the nightlife events in San Francisco over Pride weekend with a lot of people crushed into just a small amount of space, it's a good idea to be watchful for symptoms," he advised.
Monkeypox is usually spread through close physical contact, and health officials have advised people who think they might have been exposed to self-monitor, and contact their medical provider if they develop flu-like symptoms or a new rash.
They might also consider staying home, avoiding close physical contact with others, and covering exposed skin.
Anybody can be infected with and spread monkeypox, but because many of the cases have been reported by gay or bisexual men, Stanley said he is concerned that some people might be hesitant about coming forward.
"It's important that we not stigmatize the queer community when we’re talking about this disease because we want people to really feel empowered to step forward and be honest and open with their community and their health care providers and get the treatment that they need so we can stop the virus in its tracks," he said.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control offers guidance on how people can lower their risk of infection while having sex or attending large events, while the federal agency and the San Francisco Department of Public Health have created landing pages with more information about the virus.
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