US: Monkeypox an emergency

The Biden administration declared a US health emergency on Thursday over the growing monkeypox outbreak.

The declaration allows the federal government to ramp up its response to the virus without the usual regulatory barriers.

“I want to make an announcement today that I will be declaring a public health emergency,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a call with reporters.

“We’re prepared to take our response to the next level in addressing this virus.”

The country has reported more than 6,600 cases of the virus, which causes fever, aches and bumps or sores on the body.

Biden officials have been under scrutiny for a slow response to the outbreak, particularly because vaccines for the virus exist.