U.S. may require nearly $7 billion to combat monkeypox outbreak - WaPo

[July 27, 2022]  (Reuters) - The Biden administration estimates it may need nearly $7 billion to deal with the monkeypox outbreak in the United States, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday.

The funding estimate was part of a memo marked to President Joe Biden outlining a series of options, as opposed to a formal funding request, the report said. (https://wapo.st/3oxXimZ)

The White House and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The news comes days after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency.

Test tubes labelled "Monkeypox virus positive" are seen in this illustration taken May 23, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Nearly 70 countries in which the viral disease is not endemic have reported outbreaks, crossing 17,800 confirmed cases. The United States had reported 3,487 cases by Tuesday.

(Reporting by Ruhi Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath)

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