OLYMPIA – The Washington State Division of Well being and Public Well being – Seattle and King County have introduced the primary confirmed case of monkeypox within the state. The individual, a King County resident, didn’t require hospitalization and is isolating at dwelling.
Officers are working to establish others who could have been uncovered. Up to now, nobody who was uncovered is taken into account a doable constructive case. Relying on the scenario, individuals who had shut or intimate publicity to an individual with monkeypox is likely to be suggested to get a vaccine for monkeypox. Due to this, it is very important establish individuals who have been uncovered.
Division of Well being, native well being jurisdictions, and the Facilities for Prevention and Illness Management are coordinating to offer vaccine to uncovered contacts who select to obtain it. Vaccines to forestall monkeypox will not be really helpful for the general public, say officers.
“Regardless of the information of a number of instances nationwide, monkeypox is a really uncommon illness in the USA and the Washington resident who examined constructive doesn’t pose a public well being danger,” mentioned Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH, Secretary of Well being.
Dr. Jeff Duchin, well being officer for Public Well being – Seattle and King County added, “Though I feel it’s unlikely that we’ll have a big outbreak regionally, it’s doable that there are extra instances locally. Anybody with signs of monkeypox ought to seek the advice of a healthcare supplier.”
Transmission of monkeypox requires shut interplay with a symptomatic particular person. In keeping with the CDC, temporary interactions that don’t contain bodily contact and healthcare interactions carried out utilizing applicable protecting gear will not be excessive danger.
Individuals who could have signs of monkeypox ought to contact their healthcare supplier. Earlier than the go to, they need to notify their healthcare supplier that they’re involved about monkeypox, and whether or not they just lately had shut contact with an individual who had the same rash or an individual who has been recognized with monkeypox.
