Texas Confirms Death Of Monkeypox Patient But Cause Of Death Still Under Investigation

The patient was severely immunocompromised, according to the Texas Department of Health, and died at a Harris County hospital. The official cause of death is still unknown. Although that person tested positive for monkeypox, it is still unknown whether the person’s death was caused by or related to monkeypox, officials said. “What we’re looking for to be able to determine is the specific cause of death. We know that this patient had monkeypox as a diagnosis, what we don’t know for sure is that the patient died of monkeypox,” county officials said during the during a press conference on Tuesday. The case is under investigation to “determine the role of monkeypox [have] played to death,” according to state officials. An autopsy is underway and a final report will be available in the coming weeks, according to the Harris County Health Department. “Monkey pox is a serious disease, particularly for those with weakened immune systems,” Dr. John Hellerstedt, DSHS commissioner, said in a statement. “We continue to urge people to seek treatment if they have been exposed to monkeypox or have symptoms consistent with the disease.” Local officials in Harris County said they are working with state and federal health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate the case. A colorized transmission electron micrograph shows monkeypox particles (red) found inside an infected cell (blue), cultured in the lab recorded and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility in Fort Detrick, Md. NIAID via AP “We are sharing this information to err on the side of transparency and to avoid potential misinformation about this case,” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo wrote in a statement. “The best way to fight this virus is through vaccines. Our goal is still to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible — I’ve always felt that vaccines are the key to reducing the spread.” Officials urged anyone who is immunocompromised to consider getting vaccinated, as they are at higher risk of serious illness. “Monkey pox can affect those who are immunocompromised and because of this, we would certainly encourage anyone who meets the criteria, including the immunocompromised, to seek vaccination,” officials added. In a statement to ABC News, a CDC spokesperson wrote that the agency is aware of the reported death and is working with Texas officials to investigate. “Our thoughts are with the family at this heartbreaking time,” the spokesman said. Officials from the CDC warned that the strain of monkeypox responsible for the current outbreak is “rarely fatal” and that most people infected with this form of the disease will likely survive. But officials wrote that people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill or dying. During a press briefing on Tuesday, officials from the White House Smallpox Task Force further emphasized that “only a few” deaths from monkeypox have been reported worldwide throughout the current outbreak. “It is serious and our hearts certainly go out to this family who have lost a loved one, and while we do further research to find out what role monkeypox may have played, it is important to focus on having mitigation measures in place to prevent monkeypox,” said Dr. Jennifer McQuiston, director of the CDC’s monkeypox incident response. So far, the majority of cases in the current monkeypox outbreak have been traced to gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men. However, officials stress that anyone exposed to the virus can contract monkeypox. Worldwide, nearly 49,000 cases of monkeypox have now been reported, including 18,100 cases in the US — the most of any country, according to the CDC. Monkey pox is spread primarily through prolonged skin-to-skin contact with lesions or bodily fluids of infected individuals, according to the CDC. The virus can also be spread through bedding and towels contaminated by infected lesions. In addition to the lesions, which may appear as pimples or blisters, the most common symptoms associated with monkeypox are swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. ABC News’ Sony Salzman and Justin Gomez contributed to this report.

title: “Texas Confirms Death Of Monkeypox Patient But Cause Of Death Still Under Investigation Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-22” author: “John Williford”

title: “Texas Confirms Death Of Monkeypox Patient But Cause Of Death Still Under Investigation Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-14” author: “Mitchell Godzik”

title: “Texas Confirms Death Of Monkeypox Patient But Cause Of Death Still Under Investigation Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-15” author: “Brenda Tino”