The government declared on Thursday a national health emergency due to an increase in monkeypox outbreaks reported in the nation. Although there have been thousands of cases, there have been no deaths. The move is expected to allow for a more nimble response in channeling funds and other resources to contain the spread of the virus and will facilitate the management of vaccines and treatments for the disease.
"We are prepared to take our response to the next level," Health Secretary Xavier Becerra said Thursday.
Health authorities announced last week that more than one million monkeypox vaccines would be made available to states, so far 600,000 have been delivered, reported Becerra. He also detailed that they expect to receive another 150,000 doses in September, and additional vaccines in October and November.
International health emergency
A few days ago, Illinois, California and New York declared an emergency due to monkeypox. In July of this year the general director of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, declared monkeypox a global health emergency after more than 16,000 cases were reported in 75 countries by that time.
In the United States more than 6,500 cases are currently reported, the number has increased rapidly compared to last week, when 4,600 affected were reported.
According to the World Health Organization, monkeypox is a zoonotic viral infection that can spread from animals to humans and from person to person. Those most at risk of severe disease are pregnant women, children and immunocompromised persons.
