Nation's First Confirmed Monkeypox Death Reported In LA County

LOS ANGELES, CA — The nation's first confirmed monkeypox death was reported in Los Angeles County Monday afternoon.

The death was reported Thursday, but the patient's cause of death wasn't publically confirmed until Monday. The patient, an LA County resident was "severely immunocompromised and had been hospitalized," the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported. The case was only the second in the United States being investigated as a possible monkeypox death. Texas previously reported a death involving a monkeypox patient but had yet to determine that person's cause of death as of Monday.

In order to protect the confidentiality of the patient, Los Angeles County health authorities are not releasing additional information about the case. Concern about stigma associated with the disease remains high, and health officials in California have begun using the term MPX instead of monkeypox, which is considered stigmatizing and racist.

Severe MPX cases remain rare in California. Los Angeles County had reported 1,836 MPX cases as of Friday. The rate of new cases has slowed across the region in recent weeks. Most confirmed cases have been among men with fewer than two dozen female patients reported statewide by the final week of August.

The county's first fatal cases is a reminder to get treatment as soon as symptoms emerge, said county health officials.

"Persons severely immunocompromised who suspect they have monkeypox are encouraged to seek medical care and treatment early and remain under the care of a provider during their illness," the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in a written release. "Public Health sends heartfelt condolences and wishes of healing to the family and friends mourning the loss of their loved one."

Dr. Rita Singhal, chief medical officer for the county health department, said last week that, worldwide, there have been "seven confirmed deaths among monkeypox cases in non-endemic countries."

Monkeypox is generally spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, resulting from infectious rashes and scabs, though respiratory secretions and bodily fluids exchanged during extended physical episodes such as sexual intercourse can also lead to transmission, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It can also be transmitted through the sharing of items such as bedding and towels.

Symptoms include fresh pimples, blisters, rashes, fever and fatigue. There is no specific treatment. People who have been infected with smallpox, or have been vaccinated for it, may have immunity to monkeypox.

According to health officials, the vaccine can prevent infection if given before or shortly after exposure to the virus.

More information is available online at ph.lacounty.gov/monkeypox.

City News Service contributed to this report.