New York state has declared a Monkeypox outbreak a disaster emergency. Governor Kathy Hochul hit the panic button as cases in the state have jumped to nearly 1,400. More than 1,50,000 residents in New York City are at severe risk as the city is the US epicenter of the outbreak.
The state expects that it can receive 1,10,000 vaccines from the Federal government. Out of 1,10,000, 80,000 vaccines will be given to New York City.
Gay People Are At More Risk
Currently, the disease is infecting the majorly gay population in the US. Potentially 95% of all infections gave occurred among gay men.
Hochul stated that she is declaring a State Disaster Emergency to strengthen our ongoing efforts to confront the monkeypox outbreak.
State Expects More Than 1,10,000 Vaccines From Federal Government
"This Executive Order enables us to respond more swiftly, and allows health care professionals to take additional steps that will help get more New Yorkers vaccinated," tweeted Hochul.
The governor underlined that more than one in four monkeypox cases in this country are in New York, currently having a disproportionate impact on at-risk groups.
She also claimed that the state is working around the clock to secure more vaccines, expand testing capacity, and educate New Yorkers on how to stay safe.
New York City Is Home To Largest LGBT Communities in US
Monkeypox cases in NYC are also much higher as the city is home to the largest LGBT communities in the US.
Recently, due to the rising number of Monkeypox cases worldwide, the World Health Organization declared the infection a global health emergency. It's the highest level of the alert issued by the UN health body.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the world has an outbreak that has spread around the world rapidly, through new modes of transmission, about which the UN health body understands too little.
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