Topline
India reported its first death from monkeypox on Monday, marking the fourth fatality during this outbreak in countries that haven’t previously witnessed it, after both Spain and Brazil confirmed three deaths last week, and as two major U.S. cities with surging numbers of infections have declared public health emergencies to combat the disease.
A digitally-colorized electron microscopic image shows a monkeypox virus particle.
Key Facts
A 22-year-old Indian man died on Saturday in the southern region of Kerala after traveling to the United Arab Emirates, Indian officials told reporters, according to Reuters, adding 21 people who had come into contact with the man were in isolation.
The death comes as the U.S. cases of monkeypox and orthopoxvirus—the family of viruses that monkeypox belongs to—climbed to 5,189 in nearly every state as of last Friday, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
In New York—the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, with 1,345 cases as of July 29, according to the CDC—Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) declared a state disaster emergency last Friday, pledging to use “every tool in our arsenal” to tackle the outbreak, followed by New York City on Saturday, where the vast majority of infections have occurred.
The decisions came after San Francisco—in a state with 799 total infections as of July 29—also declared a public health emergency last week to strengthen the city’s response.
Big Number
22,141. That’s how many monkeypox cases have been reported in 72 countries that have not historically reported outbreaks as of July 29, according to the CDC.
Key Background
The death in India comes after Spain reported two monkeypox-related deaths and Brazil confirmed one death last week, the first series of deaths to occur outside of Africa, where at least five people have also died this year from the disease. Monkeypox is endemic in several countries in Africa, though the outbreaks had not previously received much international attention. Some research suggests people infected with monkeypox in the current global outbreak are experiencing symptoms that are not typically associated with the infection. The viral infection is spread through close contact and can cause agonizing symptoms. Because the vast majority of monkeypox cases have been identified among men who have sex with men, public health officials have taken steps to avoid language that might stigmatize gay and bisexual men. The surge in infections around the globe led the World Health Organization two weeks ago to declare the disease a public health emergency. In response, the U.S. has been attempting to ramp up its vaccine rollout in recent weeks after cities and states have complained about severely limited supply.
What To Watch For
More vaccines. The Department of Health and Human Services said last week it would release another 786,000 doses of the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine in addition to 338,000 doses that have already been distributed. City and state emergency declarations may also help mobilize public resources and streamline government responses to the growing outbreak.
Further Reading
Brazil And Spain Report First Monkeypox Deaths Outside Africa (Forbes)
WHO Calls Monkeypox A Global Health Emergency (Forbes)
India confirms Asia’s first monkeypox death (Reuters)
New York City declares monkeypox a public health emergency (CBS News)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/madelinehalpert/2022/08/01/india-reports-first-monkeypox-death-as-major-us-cities-declare-health-emergency/