The declaration will allow more control and resources for the disease.
This article was originally published on Contagionlive.com.
US Health Secretary Xavier Becerra has declared a national public health emergency over monkeypox.
“In light of the changing circumstances on the ground, I am declaring a #monkeypox public health emergency. We are ready to take our response to the next level in dealing with this virus. We urge every American to take monkeypox seriously,” Becerra tweeted on August 4.
The declaration mobilizes the response and opens up federal funding to deal with the virus.
As of yesterday, there were 6,617 confirmed cases, with California and New York having the most cases. Earlier this week, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency over the monkeypox outbreak. It comes after San Francisco and New York declared states of emergency along with New York state’s declaration that monkeypox is an “imminent public health threat” in the past week. Shortly before that, the World Health Organization declared monkeypox a “global health emergency.”
US federal agencies provide vaccines and treatment. For example, the CDC and FDA have developed a process to help clinicians provide an antiviral therapy, tecovirimat (Tpoxx), to treat patients with monkeypox. This falls under the investigational new drug extension (EA-IND). Clinicians can begin the process of securing tecovirimat by going here.
Tecovirimat is manufactured by SIGA Technologies and is approved for smallpox and is being studied for the treatment of monkeypox. Infection Control Today® (ICT®) sister publication, Contagion Live, recently spoke with SIGA Technologies Chief Scientific Officer Dennis Hruby, Ph.D., about the therapy.
The federal government is also sending vaccines to prevent the spread of monkeypox. At this time, it is reported that only people who have been in close personal contact with people who have contracted the virus are allowed to access the vaccines.
ICT® provides details about monkeypox, what it is and how it spreads here.
Add Comment