Press Teleconference: Thurs., July 14 @ 10:00 am PT

With case numbers increasing rapidly in L.A. and elsewhere and extremely limited vaccine doses available nationwide, AHF will propose the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health implement a six-point plan to ramp up education on the virus and its prevention as well as share surveillance data

AHF, the largest global AIDS organization with treatment clinics or operations in 45 countries, will host a Zoom Press Teleconference THURSDAY, July 14 at 10:00 am PT (1:00 pm ET) to propose a six-point plan of action on monkeypox to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The plan grew out of frustration by AHF and other health advocates with the lack of clear communication and action by L.A. County DPH on the global monkeypox outbreak, which is approaching its two-month mark next week and which has disproportionately affected gay men or men who have sex with men (MSM). The World Health Organization (WHO) reports there are now more than 6,000 cases in 66 countries, in an outbreak that began with a few cases being reported outside of Africa starting mid-May in Europe.

Monkeypox: AHF’s 6-Point Plan for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

1. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health should conduct twice weekly public briefings outlining the number of new cases and where they are occurring.
2. Warnings to the gay and bisexual male population should be launched online, in newspaper and in outdoor advertising advising men to watch for symptoms; avoid group sexual situations; consult a doctor if you have symptoms indicative of monkeypox, and isolate if you are diagnosed.
3. Require signs to be posted in commercial sex venues and via banner or other ads on hookup applications.
4. Lobby the federal government to supply vaccine on an emergency basis.
5. Regularly engage community partners to assist the Department of Public Health in prevention, testing, vaccination and treatment of monkeypox.
6. Engage universities to initiate studies to determine the changed characteristics of monkeypox in the current pandemic.

The Los Angeles Blade will be hosting an in-person ‘Monkeypox Town Hall’ on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at West Hollywood City Council chambers (625 N. San Vincente Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069). For more information, please visit: www.losangelesblade.com/townhall

And as part of efforts to educate its own AHF Healthcare Center patients and clients as well as the general public who may seek free HIV or STD testing at one of AHF Public Health Division’s 35 AHF Wellness Centers in the U.S., AHF created the following AHF Monkeypox Information Sheet: https://www.aidshealth.org?p=79853

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.6 million individuals in 45 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth, follow us @aidshealthcare or subscribe to our AHF podcast "AHFter Hours."

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220713005998/en/

AHF’s 6-point plan grew out of frustration w lack of clear communication & action by L.A. County’s Public Health Dept. on the monkeypox outbreak, which began with just a few cases found outside of Africa starting mid-May in Europe, mainly among gay men.