LOS ANGELES (AP) – A Los Angeles County resident with a weakened immune system died of monkeypox, local health officials announced Monday, a death believed to be the first from disease in the United States.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced the cause of death and a spokesperson said it was confirmed by an autopsy. The patient had a severely compromised immune system and had been hospitalized. No further information about the person was released.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) track cases and have not confirmed any deaths in the United States from this disease. Los Angeles County officials said they cooperated with the CDC on this case.
A CDC spokesperson confirmed the collaboration with the county, but did not immediately answer the question of whether this is the first death in the country from this disease.
Texas public health officials reported the death of a person diagnosed with monkeypox on August 30. His immune system was severely weakened and the case is under investigation to determine what role this disease may have played in his death.
Monkeypox is spread through close skin contact with another person and prolonged exposure to respiratory droplets. It can cause skin rashes, fever, body aches and chills. Relatively few people require hospitalization, and only a handful of deaths worldwide have been directly linked to this condition.
The CDC recommends giving the monkeypox vaccine to people who are in close contact with someone who is sick; to people who know that their sexual partner has been diagnosed in the past two weeks; and gay or bisexual men who have had multiple sexual partners in the past two weeks in an area known for spreading the virus. It is also recommended that the vaccine be applied to healthcare professionals at high risk of infection.
The United States has the largest number of cases globally, with 21,985 confirmed cases, according to the CDC. California has recorded the largest number of cases nationwide, with over 4,300. Blacks and Hispanics had more infections than whites.
The White House has welcomed a recent drop in the number of cases, combined with an increase in vaccinations. Officials have vowed to increase the supply of vaccines at LGBTQ Pride festivals across the country in the coming weeks.
–
