Important Monkeypox Info & News
current and trustworthy information by the doctor in partnership with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and
The Los Angeles Department of Public Health (LADPH)
To Our Patients and Any Interested Persons:
We have compiled current and relevant information for you to read, familiarize yourselves and increase awareness. Please continue to check back as this information is dynamic and changes every day.
First things first! Monkey pox vaccine is still in short supply, therefore,
to find out If you qualify for the vaccine, please go here:
SIGN UP FOR MONKEYPOX VACCINE
We strongly encourage people who are immunocompromised or have an uncontrolled HIV to please seek the vaccine immediately. You will be asked this question in this form and will be given a priority vaccination scheduling opportunity.
It is important to remember that anyone can acquire and spread monkeypox irrespective of gender identity or sexual orientation.
Monkeypox Information from CDC
Signs and Symptoms of Monkeypox
Symptoms of monkeypox can include:
A rash that may be located on or near the genitals (penis, testicles, labia, and vagina) or anus (butthole) but could also be on other areas like the hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth.
The rash will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing.
The rash can look like pimples or blisters and may be painful or itchy.Headache
Fever
Headache
Muscle aches and backache
Swollen lymph nodes
Chills
Exhaustion
Respiratory symptoms (e.g. sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)
You may experience all or only a few symptoms
Sometimes, people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. Others only experience a rash.
Most people with monkeypox will get a rash.
Some people have developed a rash before (or without) other symptoms.
Monkeypox symptoms usually start within 3 weeks of exposure to the virus. If someone has flu-like symptoms, they will usually develop a rash 1-4 days later.
Monkeypox can be spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has healed, all scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of skin has formed. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks.
If You Have a New or Unexplained Rash or Other Symptoms...
What should a person do if they have a new or unexplained rash or other symptoms?
Avoid sex or being intimate with anyone until you have been checked out by a healthcare provider.
If you don’t have a provider or health insurance, visit a public health clinic near you.
When you see a healthcare provider, wear a mask, and remind them that this virus is circulating in the area.
Avoid gatherings, especially if they involve close, personal, skin-to-skin contact.
Think about the people you have had close, personal, or sexual contact during the last 21 days, including people you met through dating apps. To help stop the spread, you might be asked to share this information if you have received a monkeypox diagnosis.While CDC works to contain the current monkeypox outbreak and learn more about the virus, this information can help you make informed choices when you are in situations or places where monkeypox could be spread.
How can a person lower their risk during sex?
Talk to your partner about any recent illness and be aware of new or unexplained rashes on your body or your partner’s body, including the genitals and anus. If you or your partner have recently been sick, currently feel sick, or have a new or an unexplained rash, do not have sex and see a healthcare provider.
If you or a partner has monkeypox, the best way to protect yourself and others is to avoid sex of any kind (oral, anal, vaginal) and do not kiss or touch each other’s bodies while you are sick, especially any rash. Do not share things like towels, fetish gear, sex toys, and toothbrushes.
If you or your partner have (or think you might have) monkeypox and you decide to have sex, consider the following to reduce the chance of spreading the virus:
Have virtual sex with no in-person contact.
Masturbate together at a distance of at least 6 feet, without touching each other and without touching any rash.
Consider having sex with your clothes on or covering areas where rash is present, reducing as much skin-to-skin contact as possible. If the rash is confined to the genitals or anus, condoms may help; however, condoms alone are likely not enough to prevent monkeypox.
Avoid kissing.
Remember to wash your hands, fetish gear, sex toys and any fabrics (bedding, towels, clothing) after having sex. Learn more about infection control.
Having multiple or anonymous sex partners may increase your chances of exposure to monkeypox. Limiting your number of sex partners may reduce the possibility of exposure.
Avoid touching the rash. Touching the rash can spread it to other parts of the body and may delay healing.
How can a person lower the chance of getting monkeypox at places like raves, parties, clubs, and festivals?
When thinking about what to do, seek out information from trusted sources like the local health department. Second, consider how much close, personal, skin-to-skin contact is likely to occur at the event you plan to attend. If you feel sick or have a rash, do not attend any gathering, and see a healthcare provider.
Festivals, events, and concerts where attendees are fully clothed and unlikely to share skin-to-skin contact are safer. However, attendees should be mindful of activities (like kissing) that might spread monkeypox.
A rave, party, or club where there is minimal clothing and where there is direct, personal, often skin-to-skin contact has some risk. Avoid any rash you see on others and consider minimizing skin-to-skin contact.
Enclosed spaces, such as back rooms, saunas, sex clubs, or private and public sex parties where intimate, often anonymous sexual contact with multiple partners occurs, may have a higher likelihood of spreading monkeypox.
How do you test for monkeypox?
The only testing currently available for monkeypox is a skin lesion swab. The blood serum testing is currently unavailable and there are no known commercial tests using blood. Anyone that tells you otherwise is providing incorrect information. (But this information does change daily, so keep an eye on our Monkey business web page and your inbox.)
What does this mean? If you have fever, chills, and lymphadenopathy, WE CAN NOT TEST you because we need an active skin lesion present to test. If you've had a high-risk exposure, you should isolate yourself immediately until the symptoms subside or a rash appears.
What is a high-risk exposure?
Close contact with someone with a similar appearing rash
Close contact with anyone who has received a confirmed or probable monkeypox diagnosis
Intimate in-person contact with people in a social network experiencing monkeypox infections, including MSM who meet partners through an online website, digital app, or social event (e.g., a bar, bathhouse, or party)
What about a vaccine?
A vaccine is available; however, due to extremely limited supply in LA County, there are restrictions on who can get it. The Los Angeles County Public Health Department has opened up vaccine clinics for monkeypox on certain days. Use the form above or visit this page for more information on groups eligible for the vaccine and required documentation. To the vaccine schedule, go here.
We expect them to continue replenishing the supply of vaccines, and eventually, our facility will get it. However, until then, please go to the DPH site where you get invited by the DPH, and do not wait on us to receive thevaccines. We will be getting them sometime this summer, but currently, there are no timelines available for release.
Is there medication for monkeypox?
An antiviral medication, Tecovirimat, is available only at limited facilities that can fulfill the CDC's expanded access Investigational New Drug (EA-IND) protocol requirements. Learn more about Tecovirimat here. They are manufacturing more of the drug, which should become widely available by the end of the year.
We appreciate your patience during these challenging times! If you have any questions, please feel free to send us an email or call us.
Thank you, and stay healthy!