New York government Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency in response to the monkeypox outbreak and says the state has become the epicenter of a new public health crisis. Meanwhile, a second death related to the virus has already been registered in Spain.
More than 1,000 cases of monkey pox have now been confirmed in New York City. That means 27 percent of all infections in the United States. Mayor Eric Adams praised the public health commissioner’s response to the outbreak, adding that the city is considering declaring a state of emergency.
By declaring a state of emergency, the state can get the necessary supplies more quickly and also take additional measures to get more New Yorkers vaccinated.
Brain inflammation resulted in deaths
But the spread of the virus is also increasing in Europe. Until after reporting the first death in Spain, Madrid reported a second case on Saturday. The state television channel RTVE reported, citing the authorities, that both cases involved “young men”.
The first death occurred in the Valencia region in eastern Spain. The regional health ministry said Friday evening that the death of the monkeypox virus (MPXV) infected patient “was caused by infection-related encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)”.
High alertness at WHO
Brazil also reported the first possible death from monkey pox on Friday. However, it involved a patient with other relevant diseases (comorbidities), the Ministry of Health in Brasília said at a news conference. The case is still pending.
Given the rapid spread of monkey pox, the WHO declared the highest alert level last weekend. The outbreak is an “emergency of international concern,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Geneva. The international spread of the infectious disease is very unusual. So far, it has essentially been limited to six African countries.
Contagion risk also high in Europe
According to the latest WHO data, nearly 23,000 cases of monkey pox have been confirmed worldwide. The Europe region is particularly affected with more than 14,000 cases. According to AGES (as of July 22, 2022), 99 cases of monkey pox have been reported in Austria. Unlike the rest of the world, the WHO estimates the risk of infection in Europe as high, according to the WHO chief.
The outbreak currently targets men who have sex with men — especially if they switch partners more often. Tedros, however, warned against stigmatizing this group. According to the US health authority CDC, the virus spreads through close physical contact, but also through the respiratory system.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
