The US has declared monkeypox a public health emergency, the health secretary said on Thursday, a move expected to free up additional funding and tools to fight the disease.
“We're prepared to take our response to the next level in addressing this virus, and we urge every American to take monkeypox seriously,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said at a briefing.
The World Health Organisation declared monkeypox a “public health emergency of international concern,” its highest alert level. The WHO declaration last month sought to trigger a co-ordinated international response and unlock funding to collaborate on vaccines and treatments. The US government has distributed 600,000 doses of Bavarian Nordic's Jynneos vaccine and deployed 14,000 of Siga Technologies' TPOXX treatment, officials said, though they did not disclose how many have been administered.