US declares monkeypox public health emergency

The United States government declared monkeypox a public health emergency on Thursday, the Department of Health and Human Services announced.

Since the first case of monkeypox was identified in the country in mid-May, more than 6,500 cases have been identified in almost all states, according to reports.

The Secretary of Health, Xavier Becerra, also revealed a second declaration that gives federal authorities powers to accelerate contingency measures, such as potential treatments and vaccines, which will allow greater flexibility for the use of available vaccines.

Three US states have already declared monkeypox health emergencies: New York, California and Illinois.

Earlier, the World Health Organization declared monkeypox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on July 23, and confirmed outbreaks in more than 70 countries where the virus had never reached.

Monkeypox is a rare zoonotic disease caused by a virus endemic to central and western Africa, which belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox but causes milder symptoms.

Most patients only experience fever, body aches, chills, and fatigue. People with more severe illnesses may develop rashes and lesions on the face and hands that can spread to other parts of the body.

Although most cases in the current outbreak have occurred in men who have had sex with men, specialists warn that the virus is also spread through direct non-sexual contact with an infected person.

Brazil is the country in Latin America with the most reported cases of monkeypox as of July 29, according to data from the Pan American Health Organization.

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