ocal authorities have confirmed the deaths of six people within the U.S. who tested positive for monkeypox (MPV/MPX/MPXV). This is alleged to be a “stark reminder” that the virus stays a potentially dangerous illness even amid the declining cases.
Latest York City has logged two deaths and so has Chicago, in line with CNN. Maryland and Nevada, however, have logged one death each.
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced the deaths on Oct. 21. Each of the patients had other health conditions that weakened their immune systems, and each were diagnosed with MPV greater than six weeks ago, the agency said. Each also needed to be hospitalized. However the cases, the agency clarified, are “unrelated to one another.”
The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) also reported the death on Oct. 21, noting in its statement that MPV was a “contributing factor” to the Maryland resident’s death. The patient was also reportedly immunocompromised, “leading to a more severe case.”
The Latest York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said it was “deeply saddened” by the deaths, as per CNN. The agency didn’t provide any further information on the patients.
As of Oct. 18, Latest York City has logged 3,703 cases. Latest York City authorities made the switch from calling it monkeypox to MPV, as the previous name is alleged to be “inaccurate and stigmatizing.”
The cases illustrate the continuing threat posed by MVP, experts imagine.
“Though the number of recent MPV cases has declined substantially since summer, it is a stark reminder that MPV is dangerous and could cause serious illness, and in very rare cases, even death,” CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady said, in line with the outlet.
MDH Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Jinlene Chan also reminded the general public that the illness is “still circulating and could cause severe illness and death.”
“In case you are eligible, corresponding to being immunocompromised or at-risk, the most effective strategy to protect yourself against serious illness from MPX is by getting vaccinated,” Chan said within the MDH statement.
Similarly, experts recently warned that the threat continues to be present regardless that the worldwide cases of MPV have been retreating and plenty of places are seeing lower numbers of late.
“We’re heading towards the tip, but we should not there yet,” Jean-Claude Manuguerra of France’s Pasteur Institute reportedly told AFP.
The decline in cases, they said, might be related to the change in behavior within the at-risk communities. Nonetheless, the specter of a resurgence continues to be lurking, particularly if behaviors return to normal.
Further, MPV stays present in African countries where it’s endemic. In these places, people in rural places can still catch it from animals.
“(A) declining outbreak will be probably the most dangerous outbreak, because it will possibly tempt us to think that the crisis is over, and to let down our guard,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
As of Oct. 21, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has logged 27,884 U.S. MPV cases and 6 deaths within the 2022 outbreak. Globally, there have been greater than 74,000 confirmed cases in places that have not historically reported MPV.