New York Declares Emergency Amid Monkeypox Outbreak

New York state Governor Kathy Hochul on Sunday declared a state disaster emergency to secure additional vaccines and slow the spread of the monkeypox virus.

Hochul said; "We need to utilize every tool in our arsenal as we respond.

"It's especially important to recognize the ways in which this outbreak is currently having a disproportionate impact on certain at-risk groups."

The announcement came after a coalition of Manhattan lawmakers called on Hochul to declare a state of emergency as the number of monkeypox infections continues to rise.

According to city health officials, 1,289 people in New York City already tested positive for monkeypox and the cases are growing.

In addition, authorities also said there are likely many more undiagnosed cases across the five boroughs in the state.

According to Hochul, New York has now received a total of 170,000 doses of the vaccine after the federal government recently secured more than 110,000 additional doses.