The US cities of New York and San Francisco declared a state of emergency due to the skyrocketing of monkeypox cases, where 1,345 and 261 cases were registered respectively in recent days, while federal officials consider declaring the emergency at the national level.
San Francisco
San Francisco became the first major city in the United States to declare a local health emergency for monkeypox in an effort to strengthen the city’s preparedness and response amid high demand for the vaccine, according to CNN.
The declaration, which takes effect Monday, is a legal action that allows city departments to mobilize and coordinate more effectively, Mayor London Breed’s office said in a statement.
“We need to be prepared and this declaration will allow us to better serve the city,” said Grant Colfax, the city’s Health Director, adding, “Our response to COVID-19 has taught us that it is imperative that we mobilize the city’s resources.” .
“The declaration helps us ensure that we have all the tools available to increase our outreach, testing and treatment, especially for LGBTQ+ people who continue to be at the highest risk of contracting monkeypox,” he explained.
The San Francisco Department of Public Health has confirmed 261 cases of monkeypox in the city, while California has a total of 799 cases.
New York
In New York, state Health Commissioner Mary T. Bassett declared a imminent threat to public healthciting the rapid spread of the virus.
“This declaration means that local health departments involved in response and prevention activities will be able to access additional state reimbursement, after other federal and state funding sources are maximized, to protect all New Yorkers and, ultimately, limit the spread of monkeypox in our communities,” he said in a statement.
Doctors urge looking for monkeypox cases beyond men who have sex with men.
New York has 1,247 probable or confirmed cases of monkeypox, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The state has received more than 60,000 doses of the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine, says the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Washington
In Washington, federal government monitors response to monkeypox and will use it to consider whether to declare the outbreak a public health emergency. The United States is the country with the most reported cases of monkeypox, but Europe has so far been the epicenter of the outbreak. The vast majority of cases have been reported among men who have sex with men.
However, experts and authorities have emphasized that anyone exposed to the virus can contract it. Some infections of children and women have already been registered, although they still represent a tiny part.
“All Americans should pay attention to monkeypox. It’s not like covid-19, but it’s contagious, it’s painful, and it can be dangerous,” US Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra said in a statement. Press conference.
