New York declares a state of emergency.
New York Governor Katie Hochul has declared a state of emergency in the US state amid an outbreak of monkeypox.
“I am declaring a national disaster emergency to strengthen our ongoing efforts to combat the spread of monkeypox,” Hochul tweeted.
She also said the move would allow authorities to respond more quickly and pave the way for medical staff to take further steps to help get more New Yorkers vaccinated.
One in four monkeypox cases in the US is in New York. As of July 29, the city had reported 1,383 cases of monkeypox.
“We are working around the clock to secure more vaccines, expand testing capacity and educate New Yorkers on how to stay safe,” Hochul said.
Earlier on Friday, Brazil and Spain confirmed the first monkeypox deaths outside Africa.
The World Health Organization declared a global health emergency last week due to the ongoing monkeypox epidemic.