Mexico, Cuba report rare deaths of two patients with monkeypox | Inquirer News

Mexico, Cuba report rare deaths of two patients with monkeypox

/ 10:05 AM August 24, 2022

FILE PHOTO: Test tubes labelled "Monkeypox virus positive" are seen in this illustration taken May 23, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

FILE PHOTO: Test tube labeled “Monkeypox virus positive” is seen in this illustration taken May 23, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

MEXICO CITY — Mexico and Cuba have reported the deaths of two people who had tested positive for monkeypox, although neither country attributed the fatalities to the viral disease.

The reports follow monkeypox-related deaths reported in Brazil and Ecuador in the past month, but fatalities remain extremely rare in the current outbreak.

Article continues after this advertisement

The Pan-American Health Organization has reported at least 21,200 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the Americas, and over 80 countries worldwide have reported new cases of the illness, which is endemic in parts of Africa.

FEATURED STORIES

Mexico’s health ministry on Tuesday said experts were investigating the death of an HIV-positive patient who had died from septic shock and pneumonia after testing positive for monkeypox.

Mexico has reported 386 confirmed and 862 probable cases of monkeypox infection.

Article continues after this advertisement

Cuban authorities said a 50-year-old Italian man died on Sunday after being diagnosed with monkeypox on Saturday.

Article continues after this advertisement

The public health ministry said the tourist, who had arrived on Aug. 15, had been in an unstable condition since Thursday and rapidly deteriorated.

Article continues after this advertisement

The ministry pointed to an autopsy report that reported the cause of death as sepsis linked to pneumonia and organ damage.

The World Health Organization has warned that people with underlying immune deficiencies could be at risk of more serious symptoms and death after contracting monkeypox. Nearly 42,000 monkeypox infections have been reported worldwide since May.

RELATED STORY:
Monkeypox: What to know amid unusual rise in cases

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: Cuba, Mexico, monkeypox

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.