TEXAS — The Texas Department of State Health Services on Tuesday reported the state’s first death of a patient who was diagnosed with monkepox.
The case, according to the state, involved an adult from Harris County who was severely immunocompromised. What’s not clear is if monkeypox caused the person’s death. An investigation into that is underway.
“Monkeypox is a serious disease, particularly for those with weakened immune systems,” DSHS Commissioner Dr. John Hellerstedt said. . “We continue to urge people to seek treatment if they have been exposed to monkeypox or have symptoms consistent with the disease.”
While your chances of contracting monkeypox are far less than COVID-19, those with fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes or unexplained rash should check with their health care provider.
If you are diagnosed with monkeypox, you are urged to stay home and avoid close contact with others.
While monkeypox is not life-threatening for most people, it is typically painful.
DSHS recommends the following to avoid infection and to limit the spread of the disease:
- Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with someone with a new, unexplained rash.
- Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact in large crowds where people are wearing minimal clothing, such as nightclubs, festivals, raves, saunas, and bathhouses.
- Do not share cups, utensils, bedding or towels with someone who is sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
People who have been exposed to known cases of monkeypox are eligible for vaccination. Also eligible are some people at high risk of infection.
DHSH most recently reported 1,598 total cases of monkeypox in Texas, 1,556 of which involved men, 41 of which involved women, and one of which is unknown.
Additional information from DSHS is available here.