U.S. expanding monkeypox testing capacity as cases rise (updated)

Sonic Healthcare

23/06/2022 24:52

(Recasts with confirmation; adds comment from HHS)
    By David Shepardson
    WASHINGTON, June 22 (Reuters) - The Biden administration
announced on Wednesday it is expanding monkeypox testing
capacity to five commercial laboratory companies amid rising
cases.
    As of Tuesday, there have been 142 reported monkeypox cases
in the United States across 24 states and Washington, D.C. The
first U.S. case was reported to the CDC on May 17.
    "All Americans should be concerned about monkeypox cases.
Thankfully we have right now the tools to fight and treat cases
in America," Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier
Becerra said. "By dramatically expanding the number of testing
locations throughout the country, we are making it possible for
anyone who needs to be tested to do so."
    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has
begun shipping monkeypox tests to the five companies: Aegis
Science, Labcorp, Mayo Clinic Laboratories, Quest Diagnostics
 DGX.N  and Sonic Healthcare, HHS said.
    HHS said health-care providers will be able to use these
laboratories by early July. 
    The commercial laboratories "will dramatically expand
testing capacity nationwide and make testing more convenient and
accessible for patients and health care providers," HHS said.
    More than 40 countries where monkeypox is not endemic have
reported outbreaks of the viral disease as confirmed cases
exceed 3,000. The World Health Organization is set to decide on
Thursday whether to declare monkeypox a global health emergency.
    Monkeypox, which spreads through close contact and was first
found in monkeys, mostly occurs in west and central Africa and
only very occasionally spreads elsewhere.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N2XE097
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N2XB0F1 
    The Washington Post reported the planned announcement
earlier.

 (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler)
 ((David.Shepardson@thomsonreuters.com; 2028988324;))