Riverside County surpasses 100 likely monkeypox cases since start of outbreak

Riverside County passed a grim milestone on Wednesday: There have been more than 100 confirmed and probable monkeypox cases reported since the current outbreak began.

The public health department reported an additional 13 confirmed or probable monkeypox cases on Wednesday. All are among males between the ages of 25 and 65, with 11 from the Coachella Valley and two from the western portion of the county.

There have been 107 confirmed and probable monkeypox cases reported in Riverside County.

Related: Board of Supervisors ratifies monkeypox emergency declaration; future of Pride uncertain

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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, 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.

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.

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: Riverside County surpasses 100 likely monkeypox cases