California, the nation’s most populous state, has confirmed 827 monkeypox cases as of Monday, the second-largest state tally after the 1 390 infections documented in New York, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Monkeypox, which spreads through close physical contact, tends to cause flu-like symptoms and pus-filled skin lesions, though it is rarely fatal. Around 70 countries where monkeypox is not already considered endemic have reported outbreaks, with global cases surpassing 22 100, according to a Reuters tally published on Monday.
In order to expand inoculation against the disease, California’s proclamation enables emergency medical services personnel to administer federally approved vaccines, similar to the statutory authority recently enacted for pharmacists to give vaccines.