On Thursday, the United States announced monkey pox a public health emergency, in a move that would free up funds and help collect data and deploy additional staff to fight the disease.
Health and Human Services Secretary Javier Becerra made it clear that the authorities are ready to take the response to the next level in tackling this virus, and urged every American to take monkeypox seriously and take responsibility to help confront the virus, according to what was reported by Agence France-Presse.
6600 injuries
The announcement, which is initially valid for 90 days but is renewable, comes at a time when the number of cases nationwide exceeded 6,600 (Thursday), about a quarter of which are from New York State.
Experts believe the true number may be much higher in the current outbreak because symptoms may be hidden.
Monkeypox in the United States (AB)
600 thousand doses
It is noteworthy that the United States has delivered 600,000 doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine, which was developed primarily against smallpox, and was allowed to be used against monkeypox. But this number is hardly enough for about 1.6 million people who are considered among the most vulnerable to infection with the virus and who are in dire need of a vaccine.
On July 23, the World Health Organization declared the highest level of alert, an international public health emergency, to step up the fight against monkeypox, also known as simian orthopoxvirus.
Monkeypox in the United States (AB)
Early signs of illness include a high temperature, swollen lymph nodes, and a chickenpox-like rash. The disease usually heals on its own after two to three weeks, and sometimes it takes a month.