Monkey: US to declare national health emergency

US President Joe Biden plans to declare monkey flu a public health emergency on Thursday. The move is intended to not only raise awareness about the virus, but also free up more flexibility and resources to fight the spread.

Quick action without extensive testing

The report will come from Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, two officials said The Washington Post. The health secretary plans a second report authorizing federal officials to expedite medical countermeasures, such as potential treatments and vaccines, without undergoing extensive federal review. Officials said this would allow more flexibility in expanding the current vaccine supply.

The government’s announcement follows decisions by New York, California and Illinois, which recently declared public health emergencies. The World Health Organization declared measles a public health emergency of international concern on July 23, after confirmed outbreaks in about 70 countries where the virus had not spread in the past.

Both the White House and the Department of Health did not initially respond to the report The Washington Post reacted.