First death from mpox in Japan

According to a report by the state broadcaster NHK, the Japanese Ministry of Health announced that a person has died from the mpox virus in Japan.

The statement noted that the deceased was in their 30s, lived in Saitama Prefecture northwest of Tokyo, and was found to have a weakened immune system. It was stated that this case has been recorded as the first death caused by the mpox virus in the country.

The statement also shared information that the first "mpox" case in the country was encountered in July 2022, and a total of 227 cases had been detected as of the beginning of December 2023.

Mpox, known as one of the rare diseases caused by an endemic virus, is divided into two types: Congo and West Africa.

The virus, which is generally transmitted from animals to humans and rarely from human to human through close contact, can cause high fever and itchy blisters on the body.

The World Health Organization had changed the name of the disease to "mpox" on the grounds that the previous name was "racist and derogatory."

It was stated that while the term "monkeypox" would be phased out, both names would be used simultaneously for one year.

News Source: 12punto