The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that monkeypox can have "devastating outcomes" on people who are considered severely immunocompromised, including those who have untreated HIV.
The new research, which was published on Wednesday in the health agency's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, observed clinical case data for 57 patients who were hospitalized with monkeypox complications. It found that the majority, 82%, of the individuals had an HIV infection on top of their recent illness.
Monkeypox and HIV
CDC Monkeypox Incident Commander Dr. Jonathan Mermin said in a news release that monkeypox and HIV have collided with tragic effects. He noted that the report reminds everyone that access to monkeypox and HIV prevention and treatment matters in saving people's lives and ensuring the public's well-being.
The report showed that 95% of the patients were male, the majority of whom, 68%, were found to be Black. Out of the 57 patients, 17 were hospitalized in the intensive care unit and 12 others have died, as per CNN.
Among the fatalities, monkeypox was found to be a cause of death or contributing factor in five while six others remain under investigation to determine whether the disease was a causal or contributing factor. The last death, monkeypox was found not to be a cause or contributing factor.
Authorities quickly urged healthcare providers to start therapies for monkeypox, including Tpoxx, earlier, even before test results and before symptoms worsen. Tpoxx, also known as tecovirimat, is a drug that is used to treat the disease and can be taken intravenously or as an oral pill.
According to the New York Times, despite the majority of the patients in the study being given Tpoxx, for some, it was delayed by as long as four weeks after they first sought care for their symptoms.
Read Also : Respiratory Virus Threatening US Babies, Toddlers: What Is the Cause of RSV Surge and How Do You Avoid It?
Monkeypox Severe Infection
There were more than 28,000 cases of monkeypox reported in the United States as of Tuesday, with roughly 76,000 cases across the globe. A vast majority of the infected are still men who have sex with men, the CDC noted.
The number of new monkeypox cases has steadily declined since September, however, the number of high-risk individuals opting for vaccination has also dropped. Furthermore, roughly only 7% of vaccine doses administered so far have gone to Black people.
Those living with HIV or with other conditions that weaken one's immune system were found to fare poorly in previous outbreaks of monkeypox in African countries. All of the 57 patients in the study were found to have skin rashes, and many of them had severe lesions in the mouth, urethra, rectum, or vagina.
The report also highlighted various cases, for example, a Latino man in his 20s who went to the emergency department in August for back pain and a rash. He was found to be positive for monkeypox and his condition quickly worsened afterward.
In the week after, the rash spread to his entire body and he had difficulty breathing, forcing health experts to admit him to a hospital. He also tested positive for HIV and records showed that he previously tested positive in 2020 but was lost to follow-up. He was transferred to the intensive care unit within days of identification, the Washington Post reported.
