4 more likely monkeypox cases reported in Riverside County on Thursday; total at 252

Ema Sasic, Palm Springs Desert Sun
·2 min read
Vaccine doses for the monkeypox virus (since renamed mpox) are seen ready for patients during a clinic at DAP Health in Palm Springs last year.

Riverside County Public Health reported an additional four confirmed or probable monkeypox cases on Thursday.

The cities in Riverside County with the most cases are Palm Springs (121), Cathedral City (34), Riverside (19), Desert Hot Springs (13), Corona (eight), Moreno Valley (seven), Palm Desert, Perris and Rancho Mirage (six each), and Indio (five), according to the county's monkeypox dashboard.

There have been 252 confirmed and probable cases reported in Riverside County since the beginning of the current outbreak, with Palm Springs and Cathedral City making up nearly two-thirds of those cases.

Monkeypox is a disease caused by the monkeypox virus. People usually become infected through close contact with skin lesions or bodily fluids of infected animals or humans (alive or dead), including droplets, or clothing and linens from an infected person. The virus can also be spread through sexual contact, but it is not classified as a sexually transmitted infection.

Health officials say the Palm Springs area is at high risk given its large number of LGBTQ+ residents and tourists. The virus can infect anyone, but during the current U.S. outbreak, it has disproportionately affected men who have sex with men, a group that includes people who identify as gay, bisexual, transgender and nonbinary.

Symptoms can occur five to 21 days after exposure, and include fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, rash and lesions often in the genital and perianal region. Illness typically lasts for two to four weeks.

Riverside County has received 7,304 vaccine vials and distributed 5,854, according to the county's vaccine dashboard on Thursday.

In Palm Springs, 3,368 people have received at least one vaccine dose. Another 1,046 Cathedral City residents received at least one shot in the arm.

DAP Health and Riverside County Public Health are teaming up to hold an invite-only vaccination clinic this Saturday at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Other local vaccine providers include Borrego Health, Desert Oasis, Eisenhower Health and county-run health clinics. Visit https://www.rivcoph.org/mpx/Vaccine-Locations for more information.

The Jynneos vaccine is a two-dose series administered four weeks apart.

Anyone who believes they have been exposed to monkeypox should contact their health care provider.

Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Monkeypox: 4 more likely cases reported in Riverside County Thursday; total at 252