The Biden administration on Thursday declared a public health emergency over the growing monkeypox outbreak. The announcement allows the federal government to ramp up its response to the virus, without the usual regulatory hurdles
The U.S. declared a monkeypox emergency yesterday (Thursday). The declaration allows the federal government to ramp up its response to the virus without the usual regulatory barriers. “I want to declare a public health emergency today,” Health Secretary Xavier Basra told reporters Thursday. About the monkeypox outbreak: “We are ready to take our response to the next level in treating this virus.”
“We urge every American to take monkeypox seriously and to take responsibility and help us deal with this virus,” he continued. The country has reported more than 6,600 cases of the virus, which causes fever, pain and bumps or sores on the body. The administration says it has issued 1.1 million doses of vaccine, and 600,000 have already been administered.
The World Health Organization declared the monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency on July 23 after declining to declare such an outbreak in late June. About 150,000 more vaccine doses will arrive in September, US federal officials said.
More than 25,800 cases of monkeypox have been recorded worldwide. New York City Mayor Eric Adams last Saturday declared monkeypox a public health emergency in New York City, after saying in May that he was not concerned about its spread in the city.