Public health agencies for New York state and the city of San Francisco issued monkeypox declarations on Thursday, July 28, to cope with the spreading of the deadly virus.
Dr. Mary T. Bassett, the New York health commissioner, announced that monkeypox had been declared an imminent threat to public health in the state as infections continue to rise, according to NBC News.
She said this declaration means local health departments engaged in prevention and response activities can access additional reimbursement from the state after other state and federal funding sources are maximized, to protect all New Yorkers and ultimately limit the spread of monkeypox in their communities.
San Francisco declares state of emergency over monkeypox outbreak
San Francisco also declared a state of emergency, noting that 261 people in the city had confirmed or probable monkeypox infections as of Wednesday, July 27, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Dr. Susan Philip, the city's health officer, said the order would allow flexibility as experts anticipate a wider spread in the community.
San Francisco has received 8,200 doses of the Jynneos vaccine thus far, intended to prevent monkeypox and smallpox infections. Mayor London Breed issued a statement about the declaration, saying San Francisco showed during COVID that early action is essential for protecting public health.
She added that they know this virus impacts everyone equally, but they also know that those in their LGBTQ community are at greater risk now. Breed said many people in their LGBTQ community are scared and frustrated, and this local emergency will allow them to continue supporting their most at-risk while better preparing for what is to come.
Anyone in close contact with a monkeypox patient can get infected with the virus, but since the outbreak started, cases have been concentrated largely among men who have sex with men.
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4,906 monkeypox cases recorded in the U.S. this year
The World Health Organization (WHO) designated monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern over the weekend. The disease is a specific poxvirus that was first discovered in 1958 among laboratory monkeys. The first monkeypox case in a human was diagnosed back in 1970.
The current outbreak has manifested in symptoms of lesions and rashes across the body, including on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, on the face, and in the genital or anal regions, according to CNN.
Monkeypox cases typically last two to four weeks, and people who got the virus may also develop flulike symptoms. Monkeypox is spread through close physical contact, so public health officials advise against having skin-to-skin contact with anyone who exhibits symptoms.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), monkeypox cases have been reported this year in 71 countries where the disease has not been reported historically. The United States has recorded 4,906 cases this year, according to CDC data as of Thursday, July 28.
