SIGA - Texas reports first U.S. death linked to monkeypox

Health officials in Texas confirmed Tuesday the death of a person diagnosed with monkeypox virus in what could be the first fatality linked to the outbreak in the U.S.

The adult patient was a severely immunocompromised individual in Harris County, the Texas Department of State Health Services said in a statement, adding that the case was under investigation to determine how monkeypox caused the death.

“Monkeypox is a serious disease, particularly for those with weakened immune systems,” noted Dr. John Hellerstedt, DSHS Commissioner. “We continue to urge people to seek treatment if they have been exposed to monkeypox or have symptoms consistent with the disease.”

Since early May, over 90 countries have reported more than 47,600 monkeypox cases and 15 related deaths where the virus is not endemic. With more than 18,100 monkeypox infections as of Aug. 29, the U.S. accounts for the largest case count.

Those exposed to a known monkeypox case and those at high risk of catching the infection are eligible to receive the JYNNEOS vaccine developed by Bavarian Nordic ( OTCPK:BVNKF ) ( OTCPK:BVNRY ). In addition, smallpox therapy TPOXX from SIGA Technologies ( NASDAQ: SIGA ) is available as a treatment for monkeypox on a case-by-case basis.

Other developers of monkeypox therapies: GeoVax Labs ( GOVX ) and Tonix Pharmaceuticals ( TNXP )

Vaccine developers for monkeypox: Emergent BioSolutions ( EBS ), Chimerix ( CMRX )

Monkeypox test makers: Co-Diagnostics ( CODX ), Roche ( OTCQX:RHHBY ) ( OTCQX:RHHBF ), Applied DNA Sciences ( APDN ), Virax Biolabs Group ( VRAX )

Biden administration declared monkeypox a national public health emergency in late July after the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a similar designation.

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