The governor of the US state of California declared a state of emergency on Monday due to the increasing number of monkeypox infections. Governor Gavin Newsom hopes that this way more people can be vaccinated more quickly. New York state declared a state of emergency on Friday, followed by Illinois on Monday.
Demand for monkeypox vaccines in California currently exceeds supply, news channel reports CNBC. By declaring a state of emergency, the state can deploy additional healthcare personnel.
Nearly 6,000 cases of monkey pox have been identified in 48 states in the US. Nearly half of the total number of confirmed infections has so far been detected in California, New York and Illinois.
US President Joe Biden considers whether a national emergency is needed, reports CNBC. This would allow all states to deploy additional healthcare personnel and resources. The country last did this at the start of the corona pandemic in January 2020.
People usually don’t get very sick from infection
People who have contracted monkey pox may experience headaches, fever and muscle aches. After a few days they develop blisters on the skin. In general, people don’t get very sick from an infection.
Anyone can contract the virus. World Health Organization WHO declared the global outbreak a international public health hazard. That warning should ensure that countries take the outbreak seriously and that a strategy is in place to limit the spread.
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