New York has topped 1,000 cases of monkeypox, health officials said this week, solidifying the city as the epicentre of the disease in the US, which now leads the world in presumed infections.
Since the first US cases were detected in May, demand for testing and vaccination has been high in the Big Apple, with thousands of immunisation appointments being snapped up within minutes of being posted online.
The World Health Organisation has declared the global monkeypox outbreak in non-endemic countries a public health emergency of international importance.
“In New York City, the outbreak has been a local emergency for weeks and we are putting every resource we have to stopping the spread,” New York City's health commissioner Dr Ashwin Vasan tweeted on Monday.
After the city's health department faced criticism for a lack of equitable access and communication in its response to the outbreak, it rolled out vaccination clinics in each borough and increased updates to the public.
The city, however, is dependent on vaccines sent by the federal government. The New York Times reported that hundreds of thousands of vaccines had faced delays in Denmark over quality approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
On Wednesday, the FDA said it has approved JYNNEOS vaccines for use in the US.
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra also said on Wednesday that the US is now working to distribute the newly approved 786,000 doses nationwide.
US agencies are also working to improve greater access to TPOXX, a smallpox antiviral that can be used to treat monkeypox.
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recorded more than 3,500 known cases — the highest count for any country.
Human-to-human spread of the viral disease can occur through sex, close physical contact, or interacting with clothing or other items used by someone with the disease.
The current outbreak is mainly affecting gay men, but this week, the CDC confirmed the first cases in children and a pregnant woman.
There have been no deaths reported in the US, but monkeypox does bring about painful rashes and lesions. It also requires a 21-day isolation period.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
'Munich: The Edge of War'
Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
Rating: 3/5
'Saand Ki Aankh'
Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
