MPox

A cluster of mpox cases in the Chicago area has sparked fears of a summer wave. Health officials are pointing to new research showing the vaccine is effective and hoping people take notice.

"Removing 'monkey' removes the stigma that monkeypox comes with," an expert tells NPR. But he questions why the World Health Organization will wait a year for the change to take full effect.

Currently, there are six confirmed cases of MPX in Butte County, according to data from the California Department of Public Health updated Tuesday. NSPR spoke with one person recently diagnosed in the county.

A Butte County resident diagnosed with monkeypox shares their experience. Also, the likelihood of seeing a megaflood in California has doubled due to climate change, and health officials say trauma due to wildfire is affecting more children in the state.

People ages 65 and older are the fastest growing homeless population in the United States — a Chico nonprofit is trying to help. Also, monkeypox cases have tripled in California over the past month and communities without vaccines feel forgotten, and a state program gives college savings accounts to California kids.

Siskiyou County’s sheriff is investigating the media’s conduct in the McKinney Fire zone. Also, a new state Senate committee on the monkeypox virus will hold its first meeting today, and a report from the Legislative Analyst's Office says the California Employment Development Department is too focused on fraud.

Officials say about a quarter of the buildings destroyed in the Carr Fire that were located in unincorporated areas of Shasta County have been rebuilt. Also, an exhibit of the Dixie Fire Stories Project is featured in Quincy, and federal health officials are considering breaking single doses of the monkeypox vaccine into smaller doses to stretch the current supply.

A Bay Area man described himself as “delirious” from the pain of a quickly spreading rash, but it took six telehealth appointments, one urgent care visit, and two emergency room trips before he was finally diagnosed and treated for monkeypox.

Favorable weather has helped firefighters battling the deadly McKinney Fire in Siskiyou County. Also, tips on how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom declares a state of emergency in response to the monkeypox outbreak.

The announcement comes three days after the state said it continued to review data about the virus. San Francisco made a similar declaration last Thursday.