United States Records First Monkeypox Fatality Since Global Outbreak Began in May

The United States just recorded its first monkeypox fatality since the global outbreak started in early May 2022.

Local officials believed that the victim, whose identity remain confidential, had a compromised immune system.

However, latest reports indicated that the individual who died was a resident of Los Angeles County in California.

First Monkeypox Fatality

The Los Angeles Department of Public Health, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on Monday, September 12, confirmed that the Los Angeles resident who died had a severely weakened immune system.

The authorities also assessed that the death was due to a monkeypox infection.

In late August, the Texas Department of State Health Service also reported a similar case of a potential monkeypox death from a person with an immunocompromised health.

However, Texas officials have not confirmed whether it was directly due to monkeypox as of Monday, according to the Los Angeles Times, as cited by Live Science.

Monkeypox Fast Facts

Monkeypox is defined as an illness caused by the monkeypox virus.

It is a viral zoonotic infection, which means it can spread from animals to humans in a process called zoonotic transmission, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

It can also spread between humans through physical contact and body fluids, including tiny droplets when breathing or talking with one another, as well as via sexual intercourse.

We can also acquire from the environment, such as contaminated water and food, as well as clothes or other objects.

Monkeypox symptoms, such as skin rashes and swollen lymph nodes, resemble those of the now-eradicated smallpox.

Monkeypox was first identified in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys used for research.

Contrary to popular belief, the name of the disease does not necessarily entail it comes from monkeys.

In fact, the exact origins of the virus remain unknown.

However, scientists had observed in the past that the monkeypox virus was carried by African rodents and non-human primates such as monkeys.

Global Monkeypox Cases

Confirmed cases of monkeypox has reached 59,179 globally, including 58,602 in locations with no historical record of monkeypox and 577 in locations with a historical record of monkeypox, according to the CDC.

The cases have transpired in 102 countries or territories, including 95 with no historical record of monkey and seven a historical record.

The US-based health body also said that the US has the highest number of cases of 22,630.

Among all states, California has the highest recorded cases of 4,300. It is followed by New York with 3,679 cases, Florida with 2,282 cases, Texas with 2,017, Georgia with 1,607, and Illinois with 1,180 cases.

The North American country is followed by Spain with 6,947 cases with two deaths, Brazil with 6,033 cases with two deaths, France with 3,833 cases, the United Kingdom with 3,552, and Germany with 3,547 cases with no recorded deaths.

The statistical data are based on the CDC's 2022 Monkeypox Outbreak Global Map as of 5:00 p.m. EDT (local time) on Tuesday, September 13.