With monkeypox cases on the increase and vaccination doses in short supply, President Biden's health secretary stated on Thursday that states and municipalities bore some of the blame for a poor response.
"We don't oversee public health in the 50 states, territories, or tribal governments," said Xavier Becerra, the health and human services secretary, in answer to a reporter's inquiry on whether the virus could be eradicated.
Monkeypox Cases in US
Becerra's remarks came as San Francisco, which, like New York, has one of the highest monkeypox case rates in the country, issued its public health emergency. According to municipal officials, the decision would allow the city to be compensated by California and the federal government as it attempts to contain the outbreak.
Becerra, in Washington, said his office is still debating whether to declare a national public health emergency. His proposal that states and municipalities do more surprising state and local leaders, who indicated in interviews that they are largely pleased with the federal government's initiatives, despite the vaccine shortfall, according to New York Times.
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said on Thursday that it has adequate immunizations to combat the current monkeypox outbreak, which has 5,000 confirmed cases in practically every state.
According to HHS authorities, 386,000 doses of the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine have already been sent to areas in most need. The vaccination is given in two doses. Beginning Friday, another 786,000 pills will be distributed.
The HHS has met with 10,000 health care experts from throughout the country to discuss the monkeypox response, emphasizing the need of being on high alert for people exhibiting symptoms and ensuring that the virus is tested for. According to the report, the United States may undertake 60,000 to 80,000 tests every year.
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US Weigh on Declaring Monkeypox as Public Health Emergency
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), monkeypox is mostly transmitted through male-to-male sexual contact but can also be transmitted by skin-to-skin contact.
The median age of patients is 35, with a range of 17 to 76. Two incidences involving youngsters have lately been reported. The virus's four major symptoms are rash, which occurs in 99 percent of patients, malaise, fever, and enlarged lymph nodes. Chills, headaches, and muscular soreness are some of the other symptoms, AA reported
Jennifer McQuiston, deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, said that there is enough material in storage for 11.1 million additional doses if needed.
As per McQuiston, over 20,000 cases of monkeypox have been discovered internationally in 77 countries as of Wednesday. There have been around 4,600 reported instances in the United States. Officials are currently debating whether to declare monkeypox a public health emergency, which would free up additional resources.
The mayor of San Francisco announced a state of emergency on Thursday because of the increasing number of cases in the city, which has 261 of California's 800 cases. In the 1980s, San Francisco was also at the epicenter of the AIDS pandemic, as per USA Today.
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