PASADENA, Calif.—Interim City Manager Cynthia Kurtz has proclaimed a local emergency to strengthen the City’s preparedness and ability to respond to the virus. In an effort to stop the spread of monkeypox and make the monkeypox vaccine more readily accessible to those at highest risk, Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) is also expanding the eligibility criteria for the vaccine, effective immediately.

“We are continuing to work proactively to protect the health of our community, and this proclamation allows us to mobilize more resources," said Kurtz. "This local emergency will allow us to continue to support our community members who are currently most at-risk, while also to better prepare for what’s to come."

The proclamation allows the City to take all actions necessary to implement preventive measures to protect and preserve public health, including, but not limited to, mobilizing City resources, accelerating emergency planning; streamlining staffing; coordinating across other agencies; expediting the ability of the City to purchase necessary supplies to combat monkeypox; allowing for future reimbursement by the state and federal governments; and raising awareness throughout Pasadena about monkeypox, including how people can lower their risk and stop the spread.

Earlier this month, the governor proclaimed a state of emergency to support the state’s response to monkeypox. Additionally, Los Angeles and Orange Counties have issued similar proclamations to bolster their preparedness.

Currently, PPHD has 15 confirmed or probable cases of monkeypox in Pasadena. There are reportedly 2,356 cases in California as of Aug. 17, according to the California Department of Public Health.

PPHD continues to provide monkeypox vaccines by invitation only to the following select groups of persons identified through public health investigation:

Vaccine eligibility and information on how to access vaccine will continue to be updated at www.cityofpasadena.net/monkeypox.

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. 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. To prevent the spread of monkeypox, PPHD recommends:

For questions regarding monkeypox, public health officials recommend that you speak to your primary care provider. If you do not have a regular provider, call LA County 2-1-1 for assistance. In addition, people without a regular provider that have developed a rash in the genital or perianal area, can access services at Los Angeles County’s sexual health clinics.

For more information on monkeypox, please visit www.cityofpasadena.net/monkeypox.

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