CLEVELAND — The Department of Public Health announced Thursday that the City of Cleveland had recorded its first death related to the monkeypox virus.
What You Need To Know
- There have been 370 caes of monkeypox reported in Ohio, 91 of them in Cleveland
- On Thursday, Cleveland’s public health department reported its first death releated to the virus
- The city is hosting multiple free vaccine clinics to help mitigate the spread
According to the news release, the victim was a Cleveland man who was hospitalized at the time of his death. The man also suffered from other health conditions.
Since the virus began spreading, 370 Ohioans have had cases — 91 of them in Cleveland.
“We’re devastated by this news and any premature death in our community,” said Dr. David Margolius, director of the Cleveland Department of Public Health. “We’re grateful to all of our partners participating in the vaccination effort to help reduce the burden of infectious diseases in Cleveland.”
The virus spreads mainly through skin-to-skin contact, contact with contaminated clothes or bedding and through respiratory secretions.
There is a vaccine for monkeypox, delivered in two doses a month apart. Just over 10,000 residents of the state have received their first dose so far.
The Cleveland Department of Public Health is hosting free flu and monkeypox vaccine clinics on Friday at Mean Bull (1313 E. 26th Str.) from noon to 6 p.m., at the J. Glen Smith Health Center (11100 St. Clair Ave.) on Nov. 23 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at McCafferty Health Center (4242 Lorain Ave.) on Nov. 21 and 23 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and at the LGBT Community Center (6705 Detroit Ave) Nov. 22 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
COVID-19 vaccines will also be available at the later three clinics.
