Monkeypox cases may be leveling off in LA, health officials say
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There are now more than 16,600 confirmed monkeypox cases across the United States, and that number is rising as countries race to control outbreaks before the disease takes hold. Cases he has been reported in all 50 states, Washington DC and Puerto Rico.No deaths reported in the US
Both California and New York have reported more than 3,000 cumulative cases, Highest in JapanLos Angeles County makes up about 44% of the entire state of California.
Here in Los Angeles, the monkeypox outbreak has grown to 1,349. This is in less than a week he’s increased by over 300 people, but it’s actually improving. A month ago, LA’s monkeypox cases were doubling every nine days.It now takes 16 days for cases to double, and new monkeypox cases May level off.
“We’re cautiously optimistic that this will become a reality and that it will continue,” LA County Public Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Rita Singhal said at a press conference Thursday. I can’t say there is,” she added.
She said similar trends are being seen in countries where the outbreak first began, as well as in other jurisdictions across the United States.
Why Diffusion Is Slowing
Dr. Singhal pointed to three reasons transmission is starting to slow: Increased availability of vaccines, men who have sex with men. Reportedly modifying behavior to avoid high-risk situations and how the virus spreads.
“It is not transmitted as easily as COVID. It requires prolonged close contact,” said Dr. Singhal. “If you have such an infectious agent, it will burn out faster when it gets out in a community or group of people.”
Health officials say anyone can get monkeypox, but gay and bisexual men with multiple sexual partners are most at risk from the outbreak. About 98% of those who have tested positive are men, and those between the ages of 30 and 39 make up nearly half of all cases, according to Los Angeles County Public Health data.
Although most current monkeypox cases are thought to have been transmitted through sexual contact, the virus is not a sexually transmitted disease, but through prolonged contact with the skin, clothing, and bedsheets of an infected individual. can spread.
(Courtesy of the Los Angeles County Public Health Department)
Recommended precautions
Health officials recommend avoiding close physical contact, both sexual and non-sexual, with anyone who has symptoms of illness, sores, or rashes.
You can also get the infection from someone who does not have sores or rashes. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is a period of 3 to 17 days when you may be infected but not yet have symptoms.
Earlier this week, Public Health expanded eligibility for the monkeypox vaccine.of expanded criteria Now includes people of any gender or sexual orientation who have engaged in commercial sex acts in the past two weeks in exchange for food, money, shelter, or other goods. Also added are gay or bisexual men who have recently had intimate contact such as skin-to-skin, hugging and kissing at large venues and events.
The announcement paved the way for more women to be vaccinated. Until recently, only women who were close contacts were eligible.
The Jynneos vaccine requires having sex with a male or transgender person, being diagnosed with gonorrhea or early syphilis in the past 12 months, taking HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or having anonymous sex or multiple partners in the past 21 days. was
LA County received an additional 41,300 doses of the Gynneos vaccine this week.Target can Click here to apply for vaccination.
What questions do you have about the pandemic and healthcare?
Jackie Fortier helps people in Southern California understand the pandemic by identifying what’s working and what’s not working in our health response.
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