Japan Reports 1st Monkeypox Death

The Japanese Health Ministry announced, on Wednesday, the first death of Monkeypox (mpox) in the country.

The Japanese authorities highlighted that a man in his 30s who was living in Saitama Prefecture died of the virus.

He was immunocompromised as he was infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, the ministry said.

This death came a few months after the World Health Organization declared that mpox is no longer a public health emergency of international concern after a decline in new infections.

The man was diagnosed with mpox at a local hospital in September and died two months later, according to the ministry.

He had no history of overseas moves.

Over 90,000 cases and 157 deaths were reported worldwide from January 2022 to September this year.