Local health expert weighs in on first monkeypox-related death in U.S.

ROANOKE, Va. – Today, the Los Angeles County Health Department reported the first U.S. death related to monkeypox. They said the patient was severely immunocompromised.

In Virginia, there are more than 400 cases. Locally, there was only one new case of monkeypox reported in the last two weeks.

Health experts said the numbers are decreasing in Virginia and nationally.

“Overwhelmingly individuals who have monkeypox this is not a severe illness and there are always going to be outliers but that shouldn’t change the overwhelming data that this is a mild self-limited illness,” Dr. Cynthia Morrow, Director of the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts said.

VDH is still encouraging those eligible to get the monkeypox vaccine.