An adult with “several serious illnesses,” who had also tested positive for monkeypox, died Sunday at a Harris County hospital, according to a news release from the Harris County Department of Public Health.
The exact cause of death is unknown. An autopsy is pending, with final results expected in the coming weeks. So far, there are no known deaths from monkeypox in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We share this information to err on the side of transparency and avoid potential misinformation about this case,” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said Monday. “The best way we have to combat this virus is through vaccines. Our goal remains to get as many people who qualify as possible vaccinated as quickly as possible. I have always thought that vaccines are the key to reducing the spread.”
Health officials have not shared any other identifying information about the person. The Harris County Public Health Department has been collaborating with the Harris Health System, the CDC and the Texas Department of State Health Services on the case, according to the release.
Also Monday, a case of monkeypox was reported at the IDEA Public Schools Hardy campus in north Houston, according to school officials. Authorities have not said if the infected person is a student.
Monkeypox remains more prevalent among men who have sex with men, but health officials have warned that other groups may be infected. The current risk to the general public is low.
The virus can be spread through prolonged face-to-face contact, intimate contact, or close contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids. Contact with items such as clothing or sheets that previously touched the rash or body fluids is another way monkeypox spreads, according to the Houston Health Department.
The illness usually lasts two to four weeks. It can spread from the time symptoms start until the rash is completely healed and a new layer of skin forms.
There were 427 cases of monkeypox in Houston as of Friday. The Houston and Harris County health departments are managing a limited number of monkeypox cases. vaccines for eligible groups. Individuals can register to receive the vaccine by calling the Houston hotline at 832-393-4220 or the Harris County hotline at 832-927-0707.
