You asked, we answered: Is monkeypox deadly?
Question:
Can monkeypox kill you? How deadly is monkeypox?
Answered by Nikki Regan, MSN, APRN, NP-C:
There are two different monkeypox variants, Clade I and Clade II. Clade II is the strain circulating in the current worldwide outbreak and is not usually deadly (endemic outbreaks of Clade I, on the other hand, are associated with a higher mortality rate of up to 10%). However, lesions and symptoms of monkeypox can be very painful and may require hospital care. Monkeypox also requires you to isolate yourself from others, often for several weeks, which can be difficult.
Current cases and deaths:
• As of Sept. 15, there are 24 monkeypox cases in Douglas County, with no deaths reported
• In the U.S., there have been over 23,000 monkeypox cases, with one death reported
• Worldwide, there have been 59,000 cases, with 20 deaths reported in this 2022 outbreak
If you think you have monkeypox, call your primary care provider. They can guide you on where to go for testing and treatment.
