First US death linked to monkeypox reported in immunocompromised adult in Texas
Enlarge / A sign announcing monkeypox vaccination is set up in Tropical Park by Miami-Dade County and Nomi Health on August 15, 2022, in Miami.
A severely immunocompromised adult who tested positive for monkeypox has died in Texas, marking the first US death connected to the global outbreak, state health officials said Tuesday.
Such deaths have been a rarity in the public health emergency. While the global case count is nearing 49,000, the World Health Organization has only recorded 15 monkeypox-related deaths. In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have tallied 18,101 cases as of August 29. The death in Texas is the first linked to the cases.
For now, health officials are not yet sure if monkeypox was the cause of the person's death. The adult died on August 28 in Harris County, which includes Houston. Harris County officials said in a news release that an autopsy is in process, and the results will be released in the next few weeks.