Lab results show Thurston has its first case of monkeypox, health officials announce

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services has been notified of what it believes is the first case of monkeypox in the county.

On Friday, Sept 9, the county health department was notified of a presumptive positive case of monkeypox by a private laboratory that had tested a specimen from a Thurston County resident with no travel history, according to a news release from the county.

The person tested positive for non-variola orthopox virus. Since there are no other orthopox viruses currently circulating, the positive test is presumed to be positive for monkeypox, the county news release says.

Washington’s first case was confirmed on May 27. To date, 488 monkeypox cases have been identified in Washington state, according to the county.

Monkeypox is a viral illness that causes a rash in most people who become infected and can be preceded by flu-like symptoms. It is spread through contact with lesions, intimate skin-to-skin contact, respiratory droplets, objects contaminated with infectious material, according to the county. It also can be transmitted through the placenta in pregnant people.

Symptoms typically start within three weeks of exposure and patients who have flu-like symptoms will often develop the rash within four days. Individuals are infectious until the rash has completely healed, two to four weeks in most cases, according to the county news release.

The county asks that people contact their healthcare providers immediately to be evaluated if they develop a new, unexplained rash. Avoid skin-to-skin contact including sex until seeing the healthcare provider. If testing for monkeypox is performed, the infected person will need to isolate at home away from other people and pets until receiving the test results.

At this time the county says the risk to the general public is low and health officials do not currently recommend vaccination for those who are not at high risk of recent exposure. Vaccination is currently recommended for:

• People who have had sexual, close intimate contact or other high-risk close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with monkeypox.
• Gay and bisexual men and transgender individuals who have had multiple or anonymous gay, male bisexual, or transgender sex partners in the last three months.
• People who have used methamphetamine in the last three months.
• People who have exchanged sex for money, drugs, or other purposes in the past three months.
• People who have been sexually assaulted, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
• People who have had sexual contact or prolonged skin-to-skin exposure with people who were exposed to monkeypox.

Eligible Thurston County residents can call 360-867-2610 to schedule an monkeypox vaccine appointment.

Find more information about monkeypox on the Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Website and the Washington State DOH website.

This story was originally published September 10, 2022 at 11:01 AM.