The United States has declared a state of public health emergency over the monkeypox outbreak. 

The announcement came during a briefing with the Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday. 

The declaration comes a month after the World Health Organisation issued a red alert over the spreading disease, placing monkeypox as a public health emergency of international concern. 

The global health body defined a public health emergency of international concern as “an extraordinary event” that becomes a “public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease” and “to potentially require a coordinated international response.”

On Tuesday, the health body has called on the global community to invest in the production of vaccines to curb the spread of monkeypox, especially in Africa.

Since the first U.S. monkeypox case was identified in mid-May. About 6,600 probable or confirmed cases have been detected in the United States as of Wednesday. Monkeypox cases have been identified in every state except Montana and Wyoming.

Last month, the European Union approved a smallpox vaccine for use against monkeypox. The commission extended the market authorization for Bavarian Nordic’s vaccine, known as Imvanex, to treat monkeypox in addition to smallpox.

The U.S. government has distributed 600,000 doses of Bavarian Nordic’s (BAVA.CO) Jynneos vaccine and deployed 14,000 of Siga Technologies’ (SIGA.O) TPOXX treatment.