A top White House official said that the U.S. government might declare monkeypox a national emergency if they cannot get the outbreak under control.

The official made the remark after the World Health Organization announced that monkeypox is a "public health emergency of international concern," according to a New York Daily News report.

Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House COVID response coordinator, said that he applauds the WHO for declaring the disease a public health emergency. He noted that they are seeing outbreaks that are out of control in many parts of the world.

The COVID official of the White House added that the U.S. is currently looking at a public health emergency announcement that the Department of Health and Human Services might impose.

The U.S. has reported more than 2,800 monkeypox cases as of last Friday, based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

Jha noted that the officials are taking the health threat of monkeypox seriously.

The White House official said, "We think we can get out arms around this thing." However, he added that they will invoke needed tools as the situation requires.

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Monkeypox U.S. National Emergency

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra can announce a public health emergency for monkeypox. A national emergency can help activate federal financial assistance to address the disease.

CNBC News reported that 44 states, including Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, have reported monkeypox cases. The largest monkeypox outbreaks are found in New York, California, Illinois, Florida, D.C., and Georgia.

In a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, 50 House Democrats called for the Biden administration to declare a public health emergency in response to the outbreak.

Senate Health Committee Chair Patty Murray sent a letter to HHS Secretary Becerra, expressing concern regarding the country's response to the monkeypox outbreak. Murray noted that some patients and healthcare providers do not have the information and resources they need to test for monkeypox and address the outbreak.

Meanwhile, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky noted that the demand for vaccines is putting a strain on the available supply as many people are lining up outside clinics to get vaccinated.

More than 300,000 doses of the monkeypox vaccine have been shipped to city and state health agencies.

WHO on Monkeypox

The White House Pandemic Office coordinator, Raj Panjabi, released a statement addressing the WHO's declaration of monkeypox as an international health emergency, as reported by The Hill. Panjabi said in a statement that a coordinated international response is significant to stop the spread of the outbreak.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the health organization's stance on monkeypox, with 71 WHO member states reporting monkeypox cases.

The virus is believed to be transmitted through sexual contact. However, it can infect anyone who comes in contact with pus-filled sores, body fluids, respiratory droplets, or contaminated linens, according to Express News report.

The monkeypox outbreak was first reported at the end of June, having only around 3,000 cases.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: WHO Declares Monkeypox Global Public Health Emergency - from NBC News