New York City declares public health emergency over monkeypox outbreak

Officials have described New York City as ‘the epicentre’ of the US monkeypox outbreak as a public health emergency was declared (Mary Altaffer/AP)

Officials have described New York City as “the epicentre” of the US monkeypox outbreak as a public health emergency was declared.

The announcement from mayor Eric Adams and health commissioner Ashwin Vasan said as many as 150,000 city residents could be at risk of infection. The declaration will allow officials to issue emergency orders under the city health code and amend code provisions to implement measures to help slow the spread.