How close is NC to declaring a state of emergency over rising monkeypox cases? We asked.
Governors of states like New York, California and Illinois have recently sounded the alarm and declared a state of emergency due to rising monkeypox cases.
So far, the United States has reported more than 6,320 confirmed cases of monkeypox since the beginning of the outbreak.
Of those, 69 cases belong to North Carolina.
With the amount of monkeypox cases on the rise in North Carolina and the window to contain the virus closing, will Gov. Roy Cooper declare a state of emergency soon?
Why California, Illinois and New York acted
California, New York and Illinois are among the leading states in confirmed monkeypox cases.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control, New York has more than 1,600 confirmed cases. California currently has more than 820 while Illinois trails behind with a little more than 530 cases.
Declaring a state of emergency allows the government to commit more resources for virus containment. Within the context of the current monkeypox outbreak, declaring a state of emergency in any given state permits an expansion of testing and vaccination sites in addition to changes to who can administer vaccines and the accessing of emergency funds, NPR reports.
What would trigger North Carolina to declare a state of emergency?
Kelly Connor, a communications manager at The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, did not comment on how many cases it would take for Gov. Cooper to declare a state of emergency but told a Charlotte Observer reporter that the NCDHHS is closely monitoring the outbreak.
“Public health officials with NCDHHS continue to monitor monkeypox cases in North Carolina to assess response needs and any needed next steps,” Connor said in a statement to the Observer.
Updated information on the amount of confirmed monkeypox cases in North Carolina can be tracked through the NCDHHS monkeypox portal, Connor said.
Putting North Carolina’s monkeypox cases into perspective
Compared to every other state, North Carolina currently ranks 16th in monkeypox infections, according to CDC data. Governors from Texas (485 cases), Florida (480 cases), and Georgia (455 cases) could declare a state of emergency before Gov. Cooper does for North Carolina.
As of Tuesday, North Carolina accounts for approximately 1.1% of confirmed monkeypox cases in the United States, CDC data shows. In comparison, New York (25.6%), California (13.1%) and Illinois (8.43%) make up more than 47% of confirmed cases across the nation, collectively.
How NCDHHS is handling the outbreak in North Carolina
According to the NCDHHS, testing is widely available for anyone who has come in contact with infected individuals or anyone who suspects they are experiencing symptoms of monkeypox.
“There is no shortage of testing supplies, and people with symptoms of monkeypox should go to their health care provider or a local health department to get tested,” the NCDHHS wrote on their website.
Additionally, there is no reported shortage of vaccines throughout the state and the agency recently expanded vaccine eligibility to include:
Anyone who had close contact in the past two weeks with someone who has been diagnosed with monkeypox
Gay or bisexual men or transgender individuals who, in the last 90 days, have had multiple sex partners or anonymous sex, have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection within the last 90 days, or received medications (PrEP) to prevent an HIV infection.
More than 10,100 doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine have arrived in North Carolina as of Tuesday, and an additional 8,300 doses of the vaccine are expected to arrive over the course of the next few weeks, according to the NCDHHS.
Vaccines are sent directly to health departments in the following counties:
Buncombe – (828) 250-5300
Cumberland – (919) 433-3600
Durham – (919) 560-9217
Forsyth – (336) 703-3100
Guilford – (336) 641-3245
Mecklenburg – (980) 314-9400
New Hanover – (910) 798-6800
Pitt – (252) 902-2300
Wake – (919) 250-4462
Anyone who meets eligibility criteria but does not reside in a county that has direct access to vaccine shipments can have their healthcare provider request to have doses shipped to its location.
This story was originally published August 3, 2022 at 1:44 PM.
