The United States has recorded more than 3,400 confirmed or suspected monkeypox cases, making it the country with the most known infections since the outbreak began. A massive surge in cases has prompted United States President Joe Biden to declare monkeypox a national health emergency, BBC reported. The country also holds the grim record of registering the highest number of coronavirus cases worldwide since the start of the pandemic (9,05,67,290).
According to media reports, there were 3,846 confirmed or suspected monkeypox cases in the United States as of July 25. This comes amid increased testing of the virus. The tally has already surpassed that of Spain, where 3,105 cases have been documented. The World Health Organization has declared monkeypox to be a global health emergency. Globally, over 16,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported from 75 countries and territories, and there have been five deaths so far due to the outbreak.
Read: Monkeypox: Common symptoms of disease and precautions to be taken
On Sunday, the White House stressed on a coordinated global response to end monkeypox spread and protect communities. Raj Panjabi, Director of White House Pandemic Preparedness Office, while commenting on WHO declaration said, "A coordinated, international response is essential to stop the spread of monkeypox, protect communities at greatest risk of contracting the disease, and combat the current outbreak."
Furthermore, the Biden administration is preparing to select a coordinator from the White House to lead the government's response to monkeypox, the BBC report underlined.
{{/usCountry}}Furthermore, the Biden administration is preparing to select a coordinator from the White House to lead the government's response to monkeypox, the BBC report underlined.
{{/usCountry}}The virus leverages social networks among persons in intimate touch, hence the spread has primarily been observed among males who have sex with men. According to a report by Bloomberg, nearly 99 per cent of reported monkeypox infections in the US, UK, Canada and Spain have occurred in males who have sex with other men and largely among those who have multiple partners.
Monkeypox virus is transmitted from infected animals to humans via indirect or direct contact. Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct contact with infectious skin or lesions, including face-to-face, skin-to-skin, and respiratory droplets.