Monkeypox

Declaring a global emergency means the monkeypox outbreak is an “extraordinary event” that could spill over into more countries and requires a coordinated global response.

An infant in D.C. tested positive for monkeypox, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

So far, over 2,000 virus cases have been reported in the U.S. Symptoms include fever, body aches, chills, fatigue, and bumps on parts of the body.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced LabCorp will begin utilizing its largest clinical laboratory to increase nationwide testing capacity on monkeypox. 

“Right now, this is an outbreak and outbreaks can be stopped,” WHO told FOX Television Stations. As of Wednesday, there were 72 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the U.S.

More than 1,600 confirmed monkeypox cases and nearly 1,500 suspected cases have been reported in 39 countries so far this year.

The World Health Organization is creating a new vaccine-sharing mechanism to stop the outbreak of monkeypox in more than 30 countries beyond Africa.

The World Health Organization will convene its emergency committee to determine if the monkeypox outbreak that has mysteriously spread beyond Africa warrants being declared a global health emergency. More than 1,600 cases and nearly 1,500 suspected cases have been reported this year in 39 countries.

Monkeypox is known to spread when there is close physical contact with an infected person, their clothing or bedsheets.

A second monkeypox case has been identified in Sacramento county. The suspected patient is in close contact with the first patient, according to health officials.

Not everyone infected with monkeypox in the United States has traveled abroad, which indicates community spread, the CDC says.

The CDC said they have a stockpile of a smallpox vaccine that is effective in treating monkeypox.

A patient who traveled to Europe and came back to Sacramento most likely has monkeypox; the first known case in California.

Washington health officials said Monday they were investigating a presumptive case of monkeypox in the state. It's one of less than ten confirmed or suspected monkeypox cases in the U.S.

A doctor says the leading theory to explain the more than 90 cases of monkeypox in a dozen countries including the U.S. was sexual transmission among gay and bisexual men at two raves in Spain and Belgium.

The U.S. reported its first confirmed monkeypox case this week.

“This is not the kind of spread we’ve seen in West Africa, so there may be something new happening in the West."

Meanwhile, officials tracking a European outbreak of monkeypox are investigating the possibility that the disease is being spread through sexual contact.