Pierce County Identifies 1st Probable Monkeypox Case

PIERCE COUNTY, WA — Health officials announced Pierce County's first likely case of monkeypox Monday, joining 15 others identified in Washington linked to an international outbreak. In a news release, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department said a prover reported a presumptive positive case on Saturday and began notifying potential close contacts who may have been exposed.

As with recent cases in neighboring King County, TPCHD said the Pierce County case was likely acquired locally and not through international travel. While still rare in the United States, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show more than 9,000 cases identified around the globe in the latest outbreak, including 866 in the United States. Nearly all of Washington's 16 reported cases have been in King County.

Monkeypox typically spreads from person to person via direct contact with the rash or skin lesions. It can also occur via contact with body fluids, saliva, or contaminated items. Infections can begin with flu-like symptoms and swollen lymph nodes, followed by the development of a rash on the face and body, or in the groin area. Symptoms typically last for two to four weeks but can be serious for some, including children and people who are immunocompromised or pregnant.

News of the Pierce County case arrives just a few days after the state Department of Health announced the first federal deliveries of the Jynneos vaccine, which officials say is effective in preventing infections and reducing the severity of symptoms.

Testing for monkeypox is now available via LabCorp, the Mayo Clinic and the University of Washington through health care providers, and anyone who develops a rash or other matching symptoms is encouraged to consult their physician. Since the virus spreads primarily through close physical contact, the risk to the general public is considered low.

"Transmission generally requires close, skin-to-skin contact with someone who has symptoms of the disease," said Dr. Scott Lindquist, the state epidemiologist for communicable diseases, last week. "For people who have had recent contact with someone who tested positive for monkeypox, the vaccine can reduce the chance of developing a monkeypox infection."

Read more about Pierce County's case on the TPCHD blog.