Mpox Virus Detected in โPierce County Wastewater, Health Officials Say
PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. – A new strain of theโค mpox virus, specifically clade I, has been detected in wastewater samples collected โขin Pierce County on September 24th, according to the Washington State Departmentโค of Health and โtheโข University of Washington. While no cases of clade I mpox have โฃbeen identified in Pierce Countyโฃ residents, the finding has promptedโฃ increased monitoring and collaboration between the Tacoma-pierce County Health department, the centers โฃfor Disease Control andโ Prevention (CDC),โ and state health officials.
The detection is being viewed as a positive example of public health surveillance, according to Dr.โข James Miller,Health Officer for Tacoma-Pierce County. “This is a rare occurrence, and also a great example of โขhow public healthโ keeps a close eye on disease spread to assess risk and inform the community when needed,” Dr. Miller stated.
Currently, the โCDC reports six cases of clade I mpox have been identified in theโฃ United States, all linked to recent international travel to countries experiencing outbreaks.Healthโค officials emphasize there has been no evidence of sustained transmission within the U.S.
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is expandingโค wastewater testingโ as an early detection method, โsupplementing traditionalโค clinical reporting. Healthcare providersโฃ in the area are being urged โto consider mpox in patients presenting with a characteristic rash and to inquire about recent travel history, with all confirmed cases required to be reported to the Health Department.
Mpox spreads through close physical โขcontact, including sexual contactโค and interactions within households. Symptoms typically include โa rash – appearingโข as bumps, blisters, or ulcersโข – and may be preceded by flu-like symptoms. While โขmost individuals recover within two to four weeks, the illness can be more severe for children, pregnant individuals, and those with compromised immune systems.
Residents experiencing โa new rash or mpox-like symptoms are advised to avoid skin-to-skin โฃcontact and seek medical attention. A vaccine is available for individuals at higher risk, and information regarding โvaccinationโค can be found on the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s website: https://tpchd.org/health/diseases/mpox/vaccine/.
The World Health Institutionโ (WHO) previously declared mpox a global health emergency due to outbreaks โขin Africa โขand has as renamed โthe virusโ from monkeypox to mpox due to concerns about racist and stigmatizing language. The preventative โmeasures for both clade I and clade IIโข mpox โคare the same.