SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – California’s governor declared a state of emergency Monday to speed up efforts to combat an outbreak of monkeypox, becoming the second state in three days to take the step.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said the declaration will help the state coordinate a government-wide response, seek more vaccines and lead outreach and education efforts about where people can get treatment and vaccines.
“We will continue to work with the federal government to provide more vaccines, raise awareness about risk reduction, and stand with the LGBTQ community in the fight against stigma,” Newsom said in a statement announcing his declaration.
The monkeypox virus is spread through prolonged and close skin-to-skin contact, which may include hugging, cuddling and kissing, as well as sharing bedding, towels and clothing. People who have gotten sick so far have mostly been men who have sex with men, although health officials note that the virus can infect anyone.
The type of monkeypox virus identified in this outbreak is rarely fatal, and people usually recover within weeks. But the lesions and blisters caused by the virus are painful and can interfere with swallowing or bowel movements if they are in the throat or anus.
The declaration in California followed similar ones in New York state on Saturday and in San Francisco on Thursday. The Newsom administration said as early as Friday that it was too early for such a declaration.
After urging Newsom to make such a declaration, Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco applauded the governor’s decision.
“The monkeypox epidemic is an emergency and we must use every tool at our disposal to control it,” Wiener said.
Newsom’s proclamation allows emergency medical personnel to administer monkeypox vaccines that are approved by the federal government.
This is similar to a recent law that allows pharmacists to administer vaccines, the Newsom administration said. It said the state’s response builds on steps developed during the coronavirus pandemic to establish vaccination clinics and ensure coverage of vulnerable populations in collaboration with local and community-based organizations.
California has received more than 61,000 doses of vaccine and distributed more than 25,000 doses.
As of last week, the state has expanded its testing capacity to process more than 1,000 tests a week.
In San Francisco, Peter Tran was among hundreds who lined up sometimes for hours to receive the monkeypox vaccine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on Monday, after the clinic was forced to close last week because it did not receive enough doses.
“It’s terrible. It’s like it’s a vaccine that’s been on the market for so long. So it’s not even a deadly disease. It’s harder to transmit than COVID. But the distribution of vaccines in this nation is absolutely terrible,” Tran said .
“I think the science shows that protection is greatly enhanced with the vaccine. That’s why I do it. And honestly I just don’t want the lesions on my body.
The city received about 4,000 doses Friday and hopes to administer them by midweek, said Dr. Lukejohn Day, chief medical officer at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.
The city had 305 cases as of Monday, he said.
Associated Press videographer Terry Chea contributed from San Francisco.
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