California, Illinois Declare State Of Emergency Over Monkeypox Spread

California and Illinois declared a state of emergency in their state on Tuesday after a monkeypox outbreak occurred in their state, with Biden’s administration assigning coordinators for the disease to help mitigate its spread.

California reportedly had 800 confirmed cases of monkeypox as of Tuesday, while Illinois has over 500. As infections related to monkeypox have risen, the state of emergency declarations is intended to help with the vaccination efforts of the state to help mitigate the spread, according to CNN.

“I am declaring a state of emergency to expand the resources and coordination efforts of state agencies in responding to, treating, and preventing the spread of MPV,” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a statement to the press.

“California is working urgently across all levels of government to slow the spread of monkeypox, leveraging our robust testing, contact tracing and community partnerships strengthened during the pandemic to ensure that those most at risk are our focus for vaccines, treatment and outreach,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said.

Monkeypox, which is a virus related to smallpox that causes lesions with pimple- or blister-like consistency, spreads through close skin-to-skin contact and may cause fevers, headaches, muscle aches, and respiratory symptoms. New York previously declared a state of emergency on Friday after the outbreak there has reached over 1,400 confirmed cases, CNBC reported.

With over three states declaring a state of emergency, U.S. President Joe Biden has named FEMA regional administrator Robert Fenton and CDC’s HIV prevention chief Demetre Daskalakis as the main coordinators for the monkeypox outbreak to ensure that states are supplied with vaccines to further prevent the spread of the virus, Reuters reported.

“Over the coming weeks ... the administration will advance and accelerate the United States’ monkeypox response to mitigate the spread of the virus, protect individuals most at risk of contracting the virus, and care for those who have been afflicted with it,” the White House said in a statement.