Texas reports the first death due to monkeypox in the US

 

Texas has reported the first death of a person diagnosed with monkeypox in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 15 deaths worldwide.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) said that the patient who died due to monkeypox was an adult living in Harris County in the US. John Hellerstedt, DSHS Commissioner, reportedly said, "Monkeypox is a serious disease, particularly for those with weakened immune systems.” He also urged people to take treatment if they have been exposed to monkeypox.

The DSHS also advised people to contact their doctors if they experience fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes and new rash. Reportedly, monkeypox patients develop severe skin rashes on the face and other body parts. They also develop a series of symptoms, including fatigue, headache, inflammation, fever and a sore throat. It can enter the human body through broken skin, the respiratory tract, eyes, nose and mouth.

Reportedly, the CDC has confirmed more than 18,000 cases of the virus across all 50 states. . The monkeypox virus has been spreading mainly in men who have sex with other men. However, anyone can get the virus through close and direct contact with an infected person.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency on July 23. However, WHO recently revealed that the number of monkeypox cases reported globally dropped by 21 per cent in the last week.

According to the WHO, monkeypox cases in the US accounted for 60 per cent of cases in the past month. Europe comprised about 38 per cent of the monkeypox cases.

Reportedly, most people usually recover from the monkeypox virus within a few weeks without any kind of treatment. However, the virus can be more severe in young children, pregnant women, and individuals who are immunocompromised.