Another 9 likely monkeypox cases reported in Coachella Valley; Riverside County total at 59

Ema Sasic, Palm Springs Desert Sun
·1 min read
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Registered pharmacist Sapana Patel holds a bottle of monkeypox vaccine at a pop-up monkeypox vaccination site on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022, in West Hollywood, California.
Registered pharmacist Sapana Patel holds a bottle of monkeypox vaccine at a pop-up monkeypox vaccination site on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022, in West Hollywood, California.

Riverside County Public Health reported an additional nine confirmed or probable monkeypox cases in the Coachella Valley on Monday.

The nine cases are among men between the ages of 20 and 60, according to county spokesperson Jose Arballo Jr.

Public Health is not disclosing the cities where people who get the virus live, at least for now, saying it could lead to patient identification.

There have been 59 confirmed and probable monkeypox cases reported in Riverside County. One previous case was transferred to San Bernardino County, Arballo said.

Monkeypox is a rare 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. The virus can also be spread through sexual contact, but it is not classified as a sexually transmitted infection.

Monkeypox 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.

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

Riverside County Public Health has launched a monkeypox vaccination "interest form" to help efficiently get shots in people's arms as more vaccine doses become available.

Arballo said that 932 submissions have been received as of Monday.

People can fill out the form at tinyurl.com/42p8awm4 or through the county's monkeypox website at RivcoPH.org/Monkeypox. Responses will feed into a database that will let the health department contact people.

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: 9 likely monkeypox cases reported in Coachella Valley; Riverside County total at 59