U.S. Reports First Death In ‘Severely Immunocompromised’ Monkeypox Patient In Texas

Breaking Business U. S. Reports First Death In ‘Severely Immunocompromised’ Monkeypox Patient In Texas Madeline Halpert Forbes Staff New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

Got it! Aug 30, 2022, 01:06pm EDT | Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline The U. S. reported what may be its first death in the ongoing monkeypox outbreak on Sunday in Texas in a severely immunocompromised patient, according to local officials , following a handful of deaths in countries around the world that have not previously experienced outbreaks of the virus.

A monkeypox virus particle is shown. Gado via Getty Images Key Facts The Harris County Public Health Department said an adult resident with “various severe illnesses” died Sunday in the hospital after contracting monkeypox. Health officials said they were still investigating what “role” monkeypox played in the death.

The case comes after six monkeypox-related deaths have been reported in countries that have not historically reported outbreaks, including Spain, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador and India, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health officials shared the information to “err on the side of transparency and to avoid potential misinformation,” Harris County judge Lina Hidalgo said in a statement, adding the best way to “fight the virus is through vaccines. ” As of August 29, the U.

S. had confirmed 18,101 cases of monkeypox and orthopoxvirus—the class of viruses that monkeypox belongs to—across every state, according to the CDC. What To Watch For Local health officials plan to share results from an autopsy confirming the final cause of death in the next few weeks.

Big Number 48,401. That’s how many monkeypox cases have been reported in 92 countries that have not historically reported outbreaks as of August 29, according to the CDC. Global cases started to fall last week, the World Health Organization said, including in some hard-hit jurisdictions in the U.

S. News Peg The WHO declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern on July 23, warning of an outbreak spreading rapidly around the world, followed by the U. S.

on August 4. Key Background The ongoing global outbreak of monkeypox began at the end of April, with cases cropping up in several European countries that have not historically experienced outbreaks. At least nine deaths have been reported in Africa this year as well, where the virus is endemic in certain regions, though the outbreaks have received little international attention in the past.

Some recent research suggests people infected with monkeypox are experiencing symptoms not typically associated with the viral infection in the past, including rectal pain and swollen tonsils. Monkeypox symptoms typically last two to four weeks, and case fatality rates for the disease in recent years are between 3% to 6%, according to the World Health Organization. The U.

S. has declared the virus an emergency to help streamline resources and has approved a new vaccination strategy to stretch supplies of the Jynneos vaccine, the only shot specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration to protect against monkeypox. The federal government has been aiming to get shots first to those at highest risk for the virus: The vast majority of cases of monkeypox—which is spread through close contact—have been identified among men who have sex with men, particularly those who have multiple or anonymous sexual partners.

Further Reading Texas confirms first U. S. death in monkeypox outbreak, says patient was “severely immunocompromised” (CBS News) India Reports First Monkeypox Death As Major U.

S. Cities Declare Health Emergency (Forbes) Monkeypox: Here Are The Places Declaring Health Emergencies—And What It Means (Forbes) Check out my website . Send me a secure tip .

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