Texas health authorities on Tuesday confirmed the first US death linked to monkeypox but said they are still investigating what role the disease played in the demise of the patient.
They specified that the patient was an adult whose immune system was severely weakened.
“I think that additional investigation is needed to know what role monkeypox may or may not have played in their death,” Jennifer McQuiston of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at a press conference.
The epidemic primarily affects gay and bisexual men, and most transmissions take place during sexual intercourse.
According to a CDC study last week, since hearing about the outbreak, about half of men who have sex with other men have reduced the number of partners they have, the number of one-night stands, or their use of dating apps to seek sex.
The United States has focused its response to the epidemic on distributing vaccines. The government has announced that doses will be made available specifically at major LGBTQ events, including Atlanta’s “Black Pride,” two events in Oakland, California, and the Southern Decadence festival in New Orleans this weekend.
