A Dallas County Health and Human Services official confirmed Tuesday two people died after contracting monkeypox, or Mpox.
The CDC says on its website that it has begun referring to the virus as Mpox to reduce stigma.
According to WFAA, Dr. Philip Huang, director of the Dallas County Health and Human Services, said the deaths were confirmed by the medical examiner’s office.
One of the men died in November, and the other in December.
Huang said both men were under age 40 and had underlying health conditions, which justified hospitalizations in both cases.
Monkeypox is not listed as a cause of death for either man, only as a contributing factor.
No information has been released as to where and how the men contracted monkeypox.
Dallas County announced that monkeypox testing is being done at Parkland Hospital and Prism Health, reported Fox 4. The county and hospitals advise that anyone being tested should wear a mask, long pants, and a long sleeve shirt.
A vaccine for monkeypox is available but is only being given to people who are at high risk of exposure to the virus.
According to the CDC, young children under age one, pregnant or immunocompromised individuals, and people with a history of atopic dermatitis or eczema are at an increased risk for severe illness if they do contract monkeypox.
Monkeypox causes rashes that could be located on the hands, feet, chest, face, mouth, or genital areas. Symptoms include fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle aches and back aches, headaches, respiratory symptoms, and sore throat, among others.
The symptoms usually start within three weeks of exposure to the virus.
A rash will develop one to four days after the person experiences flu-like symptoms.
Since June, Dallas has reported more than 851 cases of monkeypox, of which 839 were reported in males, and 12 were reported in females. Three of the cases occurred in people under 18 years old.
