By IDSE News Staff
The. Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and University of Washington detected clade I mpox virus in Pierce County wastewater in September. After consulting the CDC, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department worked with DOH to increase wastewater testing to monitor the situation. At this time, no patients with clade I mpox have been reported in Pierce County.
Two types of virus cause mpox: clade I and clade II. Most U.S. mpox cases have been caused by clade II mpox. According to the CDC, six cases of clade I mpox have been reported in the United States in people who had recently traveled to countries with ongoing outbreaks. So far, there has not been sustained transmission of clade I mpox reported in the United States.
Because this detection was found in wastewater, the identity or travel history of any people with clade I mpox in Pierce County is unknown, health department officials said. Wastewater testing complements traditional clinical disease reporting and offers an additional approach to detecting the presence of clade I mpox in the United States as early as possible.
“This is a rare occurrence, and also a great example of how public health keeps a close eye on disease spread to assess risk and inform the community when needed,” said James Miller, MD, the health officer for Tacoma-Pierce County. “The risk to the community from clade I mpox remains low. If you have symptoms of mpox, you should consult your healthcare provider.”
Healthcare professionals should consider mpox in patients with a rash that is consistent with mpox and discuss the patient’s travel history to assess the risk for clade I mpox. All cases of mpox should be reported to the health department.
“We rely on astute clinicians as the eyes and ears of public health,” Dr. Miller said.
The mpox virus typically spreads during close physical contact, including through sexual contact, day-to-day household contact, and within healthcare settings in the absence of personal protective equipment. Both types of the virus (clade I and clade II) spread in the same way and can be prevented using the same methods.
Mpox can cause a rash that looks like bumps, blisters, or ulcers. The rash can be on a small area of the body, including the genitals, or can cover a larger area of the body. Some people have flu-like symptoms before the rash develops. Most people recover in two to four weeks, but the disease can be serious, especially for children and people who are pregnant or have weakened immune systems.
