- Sweeping Vietnam internet law comes into force
- Pope kicks off Christmas under shadow of war
- Catholics hold muted Christmas mass in Indonesia's Sharia stronghold
- Japan's top diplomat in China to address 'challenges'
- Thousands attend Christmas charity dinner in Buenos Aires
- Demand for Japanese content booms post 'Shogun'
- As India's Bollywood shifts, stars and snappers click
- Mystery drones won't interfere with Santa's work: US tracker
- Djokovic eyes more Slam glory as Swiatek returns under doping cloud
- Australia's in-form Head confirmed fit for Boxing Day Test
- Brazilian midfielder Oscar returns to Sao Paulo
- 'Wemby' and 'Ant-Man' to make NBA Christmas debuts
- US agency focused on foreign disinformation shuts down
- On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis launches holy Jubilee year
- 'Like a dream': AFP photographer's return to Syria
- Chiefs seek top seed in holiday test for playoff-bound NFL teams
- Panamanians protest 'public enemy' Trump's canal threat
- Cyclone death toll in Mayotte rises to 39
- Ecuador vice president says Noboa seeking her 'banishment'
- Leicester boss Van Nistelrooy aware of 'bigger picture' as Liverpool await
- Syria authorities say armed groups have agreed to disband
- Maresca expects Man City to be in title hunt as he downplays Chelsea's chancs
- Man Utd boss Amorim vows to stay on course despite Rashford row
- South Africa opt for all-pace attack against Pakistan
- Guardiola adamant Man City slump not all about Haaland
- Global stocks mostly higher in thin pre-Christmas trade
- Bethlehem marks sombre Christmas under shadow of war
- NASA probe makes closest ever pass by the Sun
- 11 killed in blast at Turkey explosives plant
- Indonesia considers parole for ex-terror chiefs: official
- Global stocks mostly rise in thin pre-Christmas trade
- Postecoglou says Spurs 'need to reinforce' in transfer window
- Le Pen says days of new French govt numbered
- Global stocks mostly rise after US tech rally
- Villa boss Emery set for 'very difficult' clash with Newcastle
- Investors swoop in to save German flying taxi startup
- How Finnish youth learn to spot disinformation
- South Korean opposition postpones decision to impeach acting president
- 12 killed in blast at Turkey explosives plant
- Panama leaders past and present reject Trump's threat of Canal takeover
- Hong Kong police issue fresh bounties for activists overseas
- Saving the mysterious African manatee at Cameroon hotspot
- India consider second spinner for Boxing Day Test
- London wall illuminates Covid's enduring pain at Christmas
- Poyet appointed manager at South Korea's Jeonbuk
- South Korea's opposition vows to impeach acting president
- The tsunami detection buoys safeguarding lives in Thailand
- Teen Konstas to open for Australia in Boxing Day India Test
- Asian stocks mostly up after US tech rally
- US panel could not reach consensus on US-Japan steel deal: Nippon
First death linked to monkeypox reported in US
Texas authorities on Tuesday confirmed the first US death linked to monkeypox, but said they are still determining what role the disease played in the demise of the "severely immunocompromised" patient.
So far, there have not been any other reports of monkeypox patient deaths in the United States during the recent outbreak, and few who have died worldwide.
"The case is under investigation to determine what role monkeypox played in the death," Texas health authorities said in a statement.
They specified the patient was an adult whose immune system was severely weakened.
"I think that additional investigation is needed to know what role monkeypox may or may not have played in their death," Jennifer McQuiston of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at a press conference.
"It's important to emphasize that deaths due to monkeypox, while possible, remain very rare," she said, noting that only a "handful" of people had died from among more than 40,000 cases recorded in the current outbreak.
So far, United States has seen 18,100 cases of monkeypox. The number of new infections appears to have recently slowed slightly, according to data from health authorities.
The epidemic primarily affects gay and bisexual men, and most transmissions take place during sexual intercourse.
According to a CDC study last week, since hearing about the outbreak, about half of men who have sex with other men have reduced the number of partners they have, the number of one-night stands, or their use of dating apps to seek sex.
The United States has focused its response to the epidemic on distributing vaccines. The government has announced that doses will be made available specifically at major LGBTQ events, including Atlanta's "Black Pride," two events in Oakland, California, and the Southern Decadence festival in New Orleans this weekend.
US health authorities have also launched an initiative to target smaller events, in particular to reach out more to minorities; for example, the "the house [music] and ballroom community," which attract "a lot of young people and people of color," said Dr Demetre Daskalakis, deputy epidemic response coordinator for the White House.
Y.Aukaiv--AMWN