Medicine & healthcare

First US Death from Monkeypox Confirmed

SEP 13 2022·Updated FEB 23 2024

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Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

The Facts

On Mon., the Los Angeles Dept. of Public Health confirmed that a resident with a compromised immune system died from the monkeypox virus.
Guardian
This is in addition to another death reported in Texas last month. The role that the monkeypox virus played in that person's death is still under investigation.
CNN
According to the CDC, there have been 18 deaths outside of the US from the virus. The US, by far, has the most documented cases in the outbreak, with 22K confirmed infections so far in 2022.
USA Today
The death comes as large cities like Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco have begun to see a decline in new cases. This decline is attributed to the availability of vaccines and behavior changes in those at greatest risk.
Forbes
On Fri., the CDC stated that data showed that 61% of people with the virus in the US also had HIV or another sexually transmitted disease.
NBC
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also reported last week a downward trend in Europe of new cases. However, he warned that a decline in cases can potentially lead to complacency.
CNN

Sources Split

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The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

The CDC was able to get ahead of the monkeypox outbreak because there was already a vast amount of data about the virus and its behavior. The monkeypox response was able to build upon already-familiar tools, such as vaccines and testing. Strong education and preparation allowed for a swift ramp-up and effective national response.

PBS NewsHour

Establishment-critical narrative

COVID and monkeypox have both shined a light on the US's inability to respond to large-scale and highly-transmissible diseases. More effective use of testing, treatment, and vaccine tools would have slowed or eliminated the spread of both viruses, yet the US has struggled with all three mitigation measures. The US must make improvements in its public health system or suffer the same fate during the next outbreak.