The monkeypox virus outbreak has officially been declared a ‘global emergency’ by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday, after the head of the UN organization broke a tie of mixed opinions among its panel of experts.  

The virus has been detected in more than 70 countries, and requires a global response, the WHO says, urging people to take the current outbreaks seriously.  Two children in the U.S. have come down with monkeypox, the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.  

WHO officials say that almost half of the countries that are reporting cases of the virus have secured access to a vaccine.

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