The spread of the monkeypox virus prompted authorities in New York City to declare a public health emergency on Saturday, designating the city as “the epicentre” of the outbreak.
As many as 150,000 city residents may be at danger of infection, the mayor, Eric Adams, and the health commissioner, Ashwin Vasan, warned in their announcement on Saturday. Officials will be able to implement measures to assist prevent the spread by amending the city health code and issuing emergency directives as permitted by the proclamation.
Monkeypox has been deemed a “imminent threat to public health” by the state health department and proclaimed a state disaster emergency by New York Governor Kathy Hochul in the previous two days.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s data showed that as of Friday, New York had 1,345 cases. With 799, California came in second place.
Adams and Vasan stated in the statement, “We will continue to work with our federal partners to get more doses as soon as they become available. “This outbreak requires urgent national and international action and resources, and this declaration of a public health emergency underscores the gravity of the situation.”
Monkeypox was deemed a worldwide health emergency by the World Health Organization on July 23, and the mayor of San Francisco issued a state of emergency on Thursday due to the rising number of cases.
The formerly rare disease has been widespread in some areas of central and west Africa for decades, but until May, when authorities discovered dozens of epidemics in Europe, North America, and other places, it was not known to cause significant outbreaks outside of the continent or to spread rapidly among people.
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Since May, roughly 80 nations have reported more than 22,000 cases of monkeypox, with approximately 75 probable fatalities in Africa, predominantly in Nigeria and the Congo. The first cases of monkeypox-related mortality outside of Africa were reported on Friday in Brazil and Spain. A second monkeypox death was reported in Spain on Saturday.
Sharing clothing, blankets, and towels can also spread the virus as does prolonged, close skin-to-skin contact. Although health officials stress that the virus may infect anyone, males who have sex with men have been the main group in Europe and North America where it has spread.
The monkeypox virus type found in this outbreak seldom causes death, and patients often recover in a matter of weeks. However, the virus-induced sores and blisters are uncomfortable.
