SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) – On Tuesday, August 9, Sacramento County proclaimed a public health emergency and a local emergency in order to ensure appropriate resources and funding are available to the County in its response to monkeypox.

The proclamations of a public health emergency and local emergency do not signify an increased risk to the residents of Sacramento County. A proclamation of emergency allows the County to provide or receive mutual aid from other jurisdictions and assists in opening up available resources, mutual aid and staffing.

The proclamations follow the State of California’s proclamation of emergency on Aug. 1, regarding monkeypox and the funding that would be made available. Proclaiming a local emergency is a prerequisite for requesting and receiving available federal or state funding.

“Proclaiming a state of emergency in response to Monkeypox helps the County to ensure uninterrupted access to resources necessary to lessen disease transmission,” said Don Nottoli, Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors. “The proclamations should not be a reason for elevated concern; but rather, considered as mechanisms to assist in our mission to better respond to and contain the virus.”"‹

The County continues to work closely with the Centers for Disease Control and the California Department of Public Health on coordinated testing, investigations, and providing guidance and assistance to health providers in monitoring for monkeypox symptoms and gathering information to detect new cases for laboratory testing and confirming infection.

Transmission of monkeypox virus occurs when a person comes into contact with the virus from an animal, human or materials contaminated with the virus. The virus enters the body through broken skin (even if not visible), respiratory tract or the mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth).

Symptoms of monkeypox include; fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. Within 1 to 3 days (sometimes longer) after the appearance of fever, the patient develops a rash, often beginning on the face then spreading to other parts of the body. The incubation period (time from infection to symptoms) for monkeypox is usually 7−14 days but can range from 5−21 days. The illness typically lasts for 2−4 weeks.

For more information regarding monkeypox, visit the Public Health website at dhs.saccounty.gov/PUB/Pages/Communicable-Disease-Control/Monkeypox.aspx