Pasadena Public Health Department officials released a report this week detailing the evolving monkeypox situation in the region.
Los Angeles County has reported 2,143 cases, including 27 cases in Pasadena, as of Sept. 27, according to the report filed to Pasadena City Council from City Manager Miguel Marquez. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified 25,341 cases in the United States, with 4,886 cases occurring in California and one death occurring in Los Angeles County.
Monkeypox is a viral infection that can spread through contact with body fluids, monkeypox sores, or shared items such as clothing and bedding that have been contaminated with fluids from sores of a person with monkeypox, according to city leaders. Although monkeypox is not generally considered a sexually transmitted infection, it can be transmitted during sex through prolonged skin-to-skin and other intimate contact, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
Pasadena health officials proclaimed a local emergency in August that sought to strengthen the city’s preparedness and abilities to respond to the monkeypox virus.
Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency to support the state’s response to monkeypox shortly prior. Los Angeles and Orange counties leaders issued similar proclamations to bolster their own preparedness.
In the weeks since, according to the city report, the monkeypox situation is “evolving and the Pasadena Public Health Department is closely monitoring monkeypox transmission locally to ensure rapid identification of cases and prevention among close contacts.”
Along with coordinating local outreach to organizations and entities who may have significant amounts of people who may be at higher risk or eligible for MPX vaccination, the department is also working regionally and with statewide collaborations to ensure case coordination, testing availability and treatment options, according to the report.
City staffers from the Finance, Library, and Water & Power departments have been deployed as well to aid in case coordination and vaccination efforts, city leaders wrote.
Thus far, the Pasadena Public Health Department and its partners have administered 245 vaccines for the prevention of monkeypox.
