***This tracker was last updated on September 30th. If monkeypox cases begin to rise again, we will start regularly updating the tracker.***
The San Francisco Chronicle is tracking cases of monkeypox over time in the Bay Area, California and the United States. Our tally includes the number of cases reported since May 2022, using data from the California Department of Public Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and we chart where and among which populations the cases are occurring.
The U.S. declared monkeypox a national public health emergency on August 4. San Francisco officials had already declared a public health emergency on July 28 in response to the growing spread of monkeypox in the city, followed days later by an emergency declaration from the state. The previous weekend, the World Health Organization activated its highest alert level, declaring monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern.
Monkeypox vaccines are scarce in San Francisco, and officials in the city and California say they are at the mercy of the federal government for more doses because it orders and distributes the vaccine.
Most cases are in L.A., Bay Area
San Francisco and Los Angeles are not only among the largest urban areas in the state but also home to many people in the LGBTQ community, which so far has borne the brunt of the monkeypox outbreak.
More monkeypox coverage
Monkeypox in the Bay Area: Here's what you need to know as the virus surges
Where the virus is headed: How bad could monkeypox get in the Bay Area? Experts weigh trajectories.
Vaccine availability
First and second doses of vaccinations are available to people in San Francisco with a high risk of contracting monkeypox. Eligible groups are listed on the San Francisco government’s website and can get vaccinated through their health providers, or visit any of the locations below. The second doses are available at any of the locations listed, regardless of where the first dose was obtained.
The federal government is in charge of allocating monkeypox vaccine doses to the states, which in turn allocate them to local health authorities. Distribution lags behind allocations.
Cases by demographics
While anyone can get monkeypox, it has spread during the current wave largely through intimate physical contact between men. It is not, however, technically a sexually transmitted disease and can be spread through touching skin or even sharing linens. Health officials advise people and their health care providers to look out for symptoms of monkeypox, particularly ahead of travel and other festivities.
Cases and rates across the U.S.
Larger states naturally have a higher number of cases in total, especially New York, California, Illinois, Florida, Georgia and Texas. The states with the highest case rates are concentrated on the coasts.
Methodology
Most states began reporting monkeypox cases to the CDC in mid-May. While these data lag behind what individual state health departments make available on their websites, we use the CDC data here in order to compare case rates across the country.