The monkeypox outbreak is growing in the United States and is approaching 5,000 cases.

In the big city of San Francisco in California, 261 cases have been registered and people have been queuing for hours to get vaccines - only to be turned away when the syringes have run out.

On Thursday, the city declared a state of emergency due to the spread, which has been compared to the outbreak of HIV in the 1980s.

Reflecting criticism

There has been criticism of the lack of action from both the state and local levels, and some have felt that the opportunity to stop the outbreak has passed.

But Xavier Bacerra, head of the ministry responsible for public health, refutes the criticism, in connection with presenting plans to get 780,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine, which is taken in two doses against the disease.

He says he feels confident that the outbreak can be stopped.

- We believe we have done everything we can at the federal level.

We have made vaccines, tests and treatments available to all sectors of society far beyond the numbers currently required, he says.

The hundreds of thousands of doses of vaccine have been stored for weeks in Denmark, waiting for US authorities to inspect and certify the production facility.

Mainly men who have been infected

Monkeypox has so far mainly affected men, especially those who have sex with other men, similar to the HIV outbreak in the 1980s.

It has been highlighted as a reason for what critics consider to be belated action by authorities and politicians.

- I have heard from many that this feels similar in the lack of real concern and urgency with a disease that is currently disproportionately affecting the LGBTQ+ community, says Tom Temprano, one of many who had his vaccine appointment cancelled.

A few days ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the spread of monkeypox as an international health emergency - the organization's most serious warning.

The infection spreads mainly through close physical contact and anyone can be affected, although 98 percent of registered global cases concern men.

The US has ordered 5.5 million more doses of the vaccine for delivery by the middle of next year, and has secured the rights to the ingredients to make another 11.1 million doses.