New York Health Department Declares Monkeypox an Imminent Threat

The monkeypox virus that's been spreading rapidly across New York State is now being called an imminent threat to public health. That declaration by the state Department of Health means that local health departments engaged in response and prevention activities will be able to access additional state reimbursement after other funding sources are maximized.

Monkeypox is commonly spread through exposure to an infected person's lesions or respiratory droplets. Governor Hochul says 110,000 doses of monkeypox vaccine will be arriving in the next few weeks. Roughly 80,000 doses will go to New York City and the remaining doses will be distributed around the state.