It also gives more leeway for sectors of the health system to coordinate their response to the outbreak.
The emergency can be declared at the local, state, and national levels.
Importantly, the designation requires localities to collect and report data about the outbreak.
Verywell Health / Julie Bang
How Will a Public Health Emergency Declaration Change Monkeypox Response?
San Francisco was the first U.S. city to give the monkeypox outbreak emergency status.
Many people in our LGBTQ community are scared and frustrated.
The city initially requested 35,000 doses of the monkeypox vaccine.
On Friday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared the outbreak a State Disaster Emergency.
New York City soon followed the governors lead,declaring a public health emergencyon Saturday.
The city has recorded more than 1,500casesso far, almost 25% of all monkeypox cases nationwide.
Californiaand Illinoisalso declared the outbreak a state of emergency Monday.
Illinois governor Jay Pritzker emphasized the importance of delivering vaccines to the most impacted communities.
It also puts some pressure on the federal government to pursue a more concerted containment effort.
This could help health officials understand where vaccines and treatments have been distributed and who still needs the resources.
If the federal government creates an emergency declaration, localities will be required to report data to the CDC.
Will Monkeypox Become a National Public Health Emergency?
The Department of Health and Human Services may soon deem monkeypox to be a public health emergency.
It gives flexibility to different agencies to tap into emergency funds.
What This Means For You
The monkeypox virus can infect anyone, regardless of sexuality or identity.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Monkeypox: 2022 U.S. map & case count.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.2022 Monkeypox outbreak global map.
Department of Health and Human Services.Public health emergency declaration Q&As.
