Biden Declares Monkeypox a Public Health Emergency

On Thursday, President Biden declared monkeypox a public health emergency (PHE). This declaration does not impact the COVID-19 pandemic PHE.

The announcement follows the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern in July. Prior to the Biden Administration’s declaration, a number of municipalities and several states – California, Illinois and New York – had already declared monkeypox a public health emergency.

Thirty percent of confirmed monkeypox infections are within the United States, with approximately 8,300 cases confirmed.