September 30, 2022 – Ohio health officials report the death of a monkeypox patient, marking the third known death of an American patient with monkeypox, The Guardian reports. to CNN.
The Ohio Department of Health said Friday that an adult male with monkeypox has died. CNN reported that he also had “other health conditions,” but no other details were released.
On Thursday, the CDC Issue a new warning To health care providers about severe illness in people with monkeypox, especially those with weakened immune systems due to HIV or other conditions.
The CDC writes that, “During the current outbreak in the United States, 38 percent of people infected with monkeypox were infected with HIV, and most reported cases of monkeypox with severe manifestations were among people with untreated HIV.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said some people in the United States had “serious manifestations” of monkeypox virus, including prolonged hospitalizations and “significant” health problems. Some of the serious issues included:
- Persistent rash with dying tissue or wounds growing together, including some that require extensive surgery or amputation
- Injured tissue or cuts in sensitive areas, such as the mouth, urethra, rectum, or vagina, that cause severe pain and interfere with daily activities
- Intestinal wounds or infected tissue with significant swelling, sometimes resulting in obstruction
- Infected tissue or wounds that cause scarring with “significant” effects in areas such as the genitals, intestines or face
- Infection of multiple organ systems and associated conditions, such as encephalitis, myocarditis, conjunctivitis, and corneal ulcers
The CDC notes that most people diagnosed with monkeypox have mild or moderate disease, although severe cases can happen to anyone. The health warning urged health care providers to be aware of the risk factors for severe monkeypox, and said anyone with suspected or confirmed monkeypox should get tested for HIV.
Doctors should also check if someone has a weakened immune system due to another chronic condition or an immune-related medication, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Before undergoing monkeypox treatment, patients with weakened immune systems should stop other medications that can affect their immune system. People living with HIV should receive antiretroviral therapy.
CNN reported that the first US death from monkeypox was confirmed earlier this month in Los Angeles County, California. Health officials said the person had a severely weakened immune system and was taken to hospital.
In August, a person died in Texas after contracting monkeypox. CNN reported that health officials have not determined or disclosed whether the virus played a role in the patient’s death.
More than 68,000 cases of smallpox and 27 deaths have been reported worldwide, according to CDC’s latest data.
In the United States, more than 25,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported. CDC data appears. CNN reported that case numbers appeared to be declining, which health officials attributed to an increase in the number of people vaccinated against the virus.
Earlier this week, the CDC expanded eligibility for the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine to high-risk people who have not yet been exposed to the virus, according to Reuters. The CDC said people at high risk — such as men who have sex with men or those living with HIV — were 14 times more likely to get infected if they had not been vaccinated, compared to those who had been over at least two weeks old. from their first vaccination. dose.
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