A second potential demise from monkeypox within the U.S. is beneath investigation in Los Angeles County, officers mentioned.
Chief Medical Director Rita Singhal of the county’s Public Well being Division mentioned particulars had been unavailable at this early stage of the investigation.
“That is considered one of two deaths in the US which are beneath investigation to find out whether or not monkeypox was a contributing trigger,” she mentioned at a public briefing Thursday.
In late August, the Texas Division of State Well being Providers reported that an individual recognized with monkeypox within the Houston space had died. The affected person was described in a press release as “severely immunocompromised.”
The position of monkeypox within the affected person’s demise was beneath investigation, Texas officers mentioned on the time.
In California, 4,140 circumstances had been reported final week; 1,694 had been in Los Angeles County, well being officers mentioned.
The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention mentioned Friday in a weekly report on monkeypox {that a} case evaluation discovered that 61% of individuals within the U.S. who’ve developed the viral illness additionally had HIV or one other sexually transmitted an infection or illness.
Individuals who had HIV and monkeypox had been greater than twice as prone to be hospitalized, the facilities mentioned, though the precise cause for remedy wasn’t recognized.
In keeping with the World Well being Group, 98% of monkeypox circumstances exterior Africa have concerned males who’ve intercourse with males, or MSM.
The CDC recommends that native public well being officers “guarantee equitable entry to monkeypox screening, prevention, and remedy, notably amongst MSM.”
Monkeypox is commonly revealed by way of pores and skin rashes, flu signs and aches and fatigue. It’s transmitted by way of direct contact with sufferers, together with intercourse, and thru touching objects which have been utilized by these with monkeypox.
Deaths are uncommon — none are formally confirmed within the U.S. regardless of the experiences from Texas and California — and the illness resolves in most sufferers inside 4 weeks.
