People with severely weakened immune systems, such as those infected with HIV, can experience severe symptoms and even die from a monkeypox infection, according to a recent study published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. USA (CDC)
The work analyzed the cases of 57 American patients hospitalized with serious complications from monkeypox. Almost all (83%) had a very weakened immune system, in most cases due to infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Many of these patients were not being treated with ARVs.
In the United States, about 28,000 people have contracted monkeypox since the outbreak began in May. Cases began to peak in mid-August and have since decreased noticeably, helped by the country’s vaccination campaign. Deaths outside Africa, where the virus is endemic, are rare, as are those caused by the form of the virus now circulating in the United States, clade IIb.
For the study, CDC officials investigated some of the most serious cases of monkeypox. In total, 47 of these people were also found to be infected with HIV, although only four of them were receiving antiretroviral therapy, powerful drugs that keep the virus at bay. The majority (95%) were men and 68% were black.
According to the analysis, 17 patients required care in an intensive care unit, and 12 died, including five in whom monkeypox was a contributing factor or confirmed cause of death.
The CDC recommends that “clinicians should consider early treatment with available therapies for people at risk for severe monkeypox disease, particularly patients with AIDS” and that “involve all people with HIV in ongoing care.” “being a critical public health priority.”
