Monkeypox 'can be contained' in US: White House

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
24 Jul 22:29

Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, says that the US has got about 800,000 vaccines from Denmark and can effectively contain the spread of monkeypox.

Dr. Ashish Jha, White House coronavirus response coordinator

The White House coronavirus response coordinator, Dr. Ashish Jha, told CBS News Talk, on Sunday, that it was confident that authorities could "eliminate" monkeypox from the US.

Jha said, "I think monkeypox can be contained, absolutely," adding that "The plan is to eliminate this virus from the United States. I think we can do that."

The response of the coordinator came as a pushback against US President Joe Biden's unpreparedness when monkeypox first spread in the US approximately 2 months ago.

According to Jha, "very substantial" measures have been undertaken by Washington in order to contain the spread of the disease. For example, around 800,000 vaccine doses have been acquired from Denmark since the outbreak began in May.

Earlier, on July 23, the head of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, declared the monkeypox outbreak to be a global health emergency - the highest alarm it can sound.

"I have decided that the global monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern," Tedros announced.

Monkeypox has affected over 15,800 people in 72 countries, according to a tally by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published on July 20.

Adam Schiff, a Democrat in the House, emailed the nation's health secretary last week to warn that "the federal government is falling short of the response that is needed," in response to criticism of the Biden administration's response from US politicians and mayors.