NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — New York health official announced on Thursday that two New York City residents have died of monkeypox-related illnesses.
Jeffrey Hammond, a spokesperson for New York's health department, told CBS News that both victims were facing "underlying conditions that placed them at high risk of severe outcomes from monkeypox infection."
He added that their exact causes of death are under investigation, and the state health department is in contact with the city health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the fatalities.
The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene expressed sympathy for the two victims.
"We are deeply saddened by the two reported deaths and our hearts go out to the individuals’ loved ones and community," the department said. "Every effort will be made to prevent additional suffering from this virus through continued community engagement, information-sharing and vaccination."
According to the CDC, the U.S. has reported four monkeypox-linked deaths since the outbreak of 2022 began. The first death was reported in California in September.
The city has also announced it will refer to monkeypox as MPV since the "previous name is an inaccurate and stigmatizing label for a virus that is primarily affecting a community that has already suffered a long history of bigotry."
As of Oct. 17, there were 3,695 confirmed and probable cases in the city, and there were an additional 351 cases outside of the city.
Anyone who is at risk for the virus is also now eligible for the vaccine, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
For more information on the virus or the vaccine visit the department of health website.
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