In response to the monkeypox outbreak, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra issued a public health emergency on Thursday. As a result of the declaration, the federal government can step up its response to the virus without being constrained by regulatory restrictions.
According to Becerra, the Department of Health and Human Services was prepared to take action against this virus and to urge every American to take it seriously. He urged every American to take monkeypox seriously.
Over 6,600 Americans have been infected with monkeypox. As a result of the emergency declaration, federal funds and other resources are available to fight the virus, which causes fever, body aches, chills, fatigue, and pimple-like bumps. A state of public health emergency may extend, like COVID-19.
According to the White House, more than 1.1 million vaccine doses have been made available, and domestic diagnostic capacity has been increased to 80,000 tests per week.
With cases reported in more than 70 countries, the World Health Organization declared monkeypox a public health emergency last week. Global emergencies are the WHO’s highest level of alert, but they don’t necessarily indicate a particularly dangerous or transmissible disease.
Last week, California, Illinois, and New York, as well as the cities of New York, San Francisco, and the county of San Diego, made declarations. New York City Mayor Eric Adams declared monkeypox a public health emergency on Saturday after saying he was not concerned about its spread in May.
Monkeypox is spread through prolonged and close skin-to-skin contact and by sharing bedding, towels, and clothing. The virus has mostly affected men who have had sex with men, although it can affect anyone.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Biden’s beleaguered chief medical adviser, said Thursday the administration would work with LGBTQ leaders to educate and engage them. Even though vaccines for the virus already exist, Biden officials have been criticized for their slow response to the outbreak.
Earlier this week, the White House named Robert Fenton of FEMA as the national monkeypox response coordinator on Tuesday, and Dr. Demetre Daskalaki, director of HIV prevention at CDC, as his deputy,