Vaccination strongly recommended for at-risk individuals
The Los Angeles County Department of Health has warned of a rise in MPOX cases in the Los Angeles area and is urging people at highest risk of infection to get vaccinated against the potentially serious disease.
Public Health officials said Monday that 52 new cases have been reported in Los Angeles County over the past four weeks, more than double the number of cases in the four-week period prior to that.
Of the new cases, about 70% were in people who had not been vaccinated with MPOX.
Public health officials are urging people at risk of exposure to get the two-dose MPOX vaccine, which is available to everyone and available at pharmacies across Los Angeles County. Public Health clinics are also offering the vaccine free of charge, without an appointment, while supplies last.
The vaccine is strongly recommended for men and transgender people who have sex with men or other transgender people, and for anyone who engages in “commercial and/or transactional sexual activity. ” It is also recommended for people who have sexual or intimate physical contact at large public events, people with HIV, and the sexual partners of people in these groups.
High-risk individuals are recommended to receive two doses of the vaccine, and the second dose can be given any time after the first.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is spread primarily through close contact, including bodily fluids, wounds, and shared bedding and clothing, and also through respiratory droplets from kissing, coughing, and sneezing.
This image provided by the CDC in 1997 shows the back of the hand of a monkeypox patient who had the characteristic rash during the convalescent phase. (Courtesy of CDC, via AP)
Symptoms range from fever, chills, headache and muscle aches to swollen lymph nodes and unusual blister-like pains on the face, body and genitals.
Anyone with these symptoms, especially those who have traveled to Africa within the past 21 days, is urged to contact their healthcare provider and get tested.
Public Health has issued the following tips to reduce the risk of spreading MPOX:
Ask your partner if they have symptoms of MPOX or feel unwell, and if they have a new or unexplained rash or illness, avoid intimate contact until you consult a health care provider. Limit the number of partners, especially if the partner has an unknown sexual history. Exchange contact information with new partners for sexual health follow-up, if necessary. Avoid sex parties and places where intimate contact with multiple people occurs. Use condoms and gloves to reduce exposure, but be aware that condoms may not fully protect against MPOX. Do not share towels, clothing, bedding, fetish gear, sex toys, or toothbrushes. Wash your hands and those items after each use.
The Department of Public Health is working to monitor and track MPOX cases. For the latest information and resources, please visit the Department of Health’s MPOX website or contact the Information Call Center at 1-833-540-0473.
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