More cases of monkeypox have been reported in the Tri-Counties. A total of five cases of the monkeypox virus have now been confirmed on the Central and South Coasts.
The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department is reporting two new cases, bringing the county’s total to three. Because of confidentiality laws, health officials will only say the new cases are adults, and that they are in isolation.
The health department is doing contact tracing to determine if anyone else may have been exposed.
Two cases had previously been confirmed in Ventura County.
Health officials say the risk to the general public remains low. It can be spread person-to-person with direct contact involving infectious rashes, scabs, or bodily fluids, or contact with infected materials like towels.
There are around 9500 confirmed monkeypox cases in the nation, and 1300 in California. No monkeypox related deaths have been reported in the U.S.
