Santa Barbara County Public Health has launched a Monkeypox webpage to keep you up to date on the quickly evolving situation. Learn more about symptoms, prevention strategies, and local vaccine availability: https://countyofsb.org/3404/Monkeypox

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. This virus is part of the same family of viruses as the virus that causes smallpox. Monkeypox is of public health concern because the illness is similar to smallpox and can be spread from infected humans, animals, and materials contaminated with the virus. Monkeypox is less transmissible and usually less severe than smallpox.

On August 1, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Monkeypox.