SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – California has declared a state of emergency due to the spread of monkeypox.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued the proclamation on Monday night, four days after San Francisco declared a state of emergency and three days after New York state declared its own state disaster emergency.
New York and California accounted for about 38% of the country's 5,811 confirmed monkeypox cases as of 11 a.m. on Monday, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracker's latest data. California had 827 cases at the time.
"California is working urgently across 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 that those most at risk are our focus for vaccines, treatment and outreach," Newsom said in a press release on Monday night. "We’ll continue to work with the federal government to secure more vaccines, raise awareness about reducing risk, and stand with the LGBTQ community fighting stigmatization."
Newsom's office said the emergency declaration will enable the state to "seek additional vaccines and lead outreach and education efforts on accessing vaccines and treatment."
California State Sen. Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat, called on city and state officials to declare states of emergency last week. He echoed criticism of the lack of access to vaccines and testing, shortly after San Francisco public health officials briefly closed a city-run vaccine clinic because federally allotted doses fell well short of the city's ask.
Wiener tweeted Monday night that he was "deeply grateful" for Newsom's declaration.
Monkeypox transmits through extensive skin-to-skin contact and close breathing, which can occur during sex, kissing and sharing bedding and clothing.
Cases have been predominantly concentrated among men who have sex with men, but public health officials have stressed that anyone can catch the virus. Most people infected with monkeypox develop a rash, and some experience other symptoms, which usually manifest within three weeks of infection.
Under Monday's declaration, Newsom's office said that emergency medical services personnel can now administer vaccines. California officials have received more than 61,000 doses so far, and the state has allocated the shots to local health departments based upon the number of reported monkeypox cases, estimate of at-risk populations and other factors.
But some jurisdictions, including San Francisco, have received well short of the doses they've asked for. Including the 4,220 doses to be distributed this week, the city has received a little more than one-third of the 35,000 doses officials asked for weeks ago.
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