US declares public health emergency
By ZEKE MILLER, MIKE STOBBE and MICHAEL BALSAMO WASHINGTON (AP) —While the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has reported only one case of monkeypox in the state, the federal government declared a public health emergency Thursday to bolster the response to a monkeypox outbreak that has infected more than7,100 Americans.The announcement will free up money and other resources to fight the virus, which may cause fever, body aches, chills, fatigue and pimple-like bumps on manyparts of the body.“We are prepared to take our response to the next level in addressing this virus, and we urge every American to take monkeypox seriously,” said Xavier Becerra, head of the U.S. Departmentof Health and Human Services.The declaration by HHScomes as the Biden administration has faced criticism over monkeypox vaccine availability.