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In response to the growing number of monkeypox cases across the United States, President Joe Biden has appointed an emergency monkeypox response team to help combat the viral zoonotic disease.

The task force, formally announced on Tuesday the 2nd of August, will work with state-specific authorities to help distribute vaccines and assist in testing for US citizens.

Speaking about the task force’s inception, White House chief medical advisor Anthony Fauci explained that the “team will allow the Biden administration to further accelerate and strengthen its monkeypox response.”

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Since monkeypox first arrived in the US, several states have declared a public health emergency with over 6,000 confirmed cases nationwide, meaning the USA has the most cases in the current outbreak, which is reported to have infected approximately 25,000 people globally.

The World Health Organization has also warned against reinforcing “homophobic and racist stereotypes and exacerbating stigma,” emphasising that anyone can get monkeypox.

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