News
U.S. declares public health emergency over monkeypox outbreak
August 4th, 8:21 PM EDT
Updated:

This 2003 electron microscope image shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions and spherical immature virions obtained from a sample of human skin associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. (Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner/CDC via AP, File)
ZEKE MILLER, MIKE STOBBE and MICHAEL BALSAMO
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. has declared a public health emergency to bolster the federal response to the outbreak of monkeypox that already has infected more than 6,600 Americans.
The announcement Thursday by the Department of Health and Human Services frees up federal funding and resources to fight the virus, which may cause fever, body aches, chills, fatigue and pimple-like bumps on many parts of the body.
Xavier Becerra is the head of HHS. He says the agency is ready to take the U.S. response "to the next level."