The monkeypox virus arrived in Ventura County last month. Now, the first case has been confirmed in Santa Barbara County.
Santa Barbara County Public Health officials say an adult has been diagnosed with monkeypox in the county. They aren’t releasing other details, other than to say the person contracted the virus outside of the county. They are doing contact tracing to see if anyone else might have been exposed.
The risk to the general public is considered low, because the main way it is spread is through direct contact with infectious rashes, scabs or body fluids.
It can also be transmitted through contaminated clothing or linens.
It can create a fever, rashes, and headaches, but usually disappears without treatment. In rare cases it can cause serious illness or death. California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency this week to make resources to fight the virus more readily available.
