LA County confirms first monkeypox death

• Los Angeles County health officials announced what is believed to be the first monkeypox death in the United States.
• The CDC is yet to confirm if the LA County death is indeed the first monkeypox death since the Texas case is still under investigation.
• Officials are ramping up their vaccination efforts across the country, particularly at LGBTQ Pride festivals.

A recent death in Los Angeles County is believed to be the first monkeypox death in the United States, health officials announced on Monday.

According to the county’s Department of Public Health, the patient was severely immunocompromised and was hospitalized. An autopsy confirmed the cause of death to be monkeypox.

Health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are still tracking U.S. cases and have yet to confirm if the death in Los Angeles is indeed the first monkeypox death in the country.

A previous death potentially linked to monkeypox was reported in Texas on August 30. The patient was also severely immunocompromised and was diagnosed with monkeypox, but the investigation into the direct cause of death is still ongoing.

Monkeypox symptoms typically include fever, body aches, chills, and rashes or blisters. It is spread through intimate physical contact or prolonged exposure to droplets from an infected person. Only a few cases require hospitalization and relatively few deaths have been linked to the disease. It mostly poses a risk to immunocompromised people, pregnant women, and young children.

The monkeypox vaccine is recommended for anyone who had close contact with an infected person in the last two weeks. This includes people with a sexual partner who was recently diagnosed or people who had multiple sex partners in an area known to have several cases. Health care workers are also advised to get the vaccine.

With about 21,985 confirmed cases, the U.S. has the most number of cases worldwide, with Latinos and Black people among the disproportionately infected. California reported the most number of cases nationwide at over 4,300.

The White House is still optimistic given the increase in vaccination rates and recent decline in cases. Officials have announced more vaccination offerings across the country in the coming weeks, particularly at LGBTQ Pride festivals.

Source: Aol.com