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New York City Mayor Eric Adams declared a state of emergency on Monday over the monkeypox outbreak that has now infected more than 1,200 people in the city, accounting for a quarter of all cases in the whole country
Adams said his order will strengthen the city’s efforts “to educate, vaccinate, test and treat as many New Yorkers as possible and ensure a whole-of-government response to this outbreak.”
Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a press conference at City Hall in New York City, January 24, 2022. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid)
Adams’ state of emergency will allow him to suspend local laws and implement new health regulations.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has already declared a state disaster emergency over monkeypox, and the state health department has called monkeypox an “imminent public health threat.”
NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO: SMALLPOX THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH
New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan said up to 150,000 city residents could be at risk of infection.
The World Health Organization declared monkeypox a global health emergency on July 23, and the mayor of San Francisco announced a state of emergency on Thursday in the face of the growing number of cases.
The once-rare disease has been established in parts of central and western Africa for decades, but it was not known to trigger large outbreaks beyond the continent or spread widely among people until May, when authorities detected dozens of outbreaks in Europe, North America and elsewhere. .
Tubes labeled ‘Monkeypox Virus’, with positive and negative results pictured, in this illustration taken on May 23, 2022. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)
So far, more than 22,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported in nearly 80 countries since May, with about 75 suspected deaths in Africa, mainly in Nigeria and Congo. On Friday, Brazil and Spain reported monkeypox-related deaths, the first to be reported outside Africa. Spain reported a second smallpox death on Saturday.
The virus is spread through close and prolonged skin-to-skin contact, as well as sharing bedding, towels and clothing. In Europe and North America, it has spread mainly among men who have sex with men, although health officials stress that the virus can infect anyone.
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The type of monkeypox virus identified in this outbreak is rarely fatal, and people usually recover within a few weeks. But the lesions and blisters caused by the virus are painful.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.