Monkeypox continues to infect about 20 people each week in Washington state

September 22, 2022 / 10:07 am

caption: This image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) shows a colorized transmission electron micrograph of monkeypox particles (red) found within an infected cell (blue), cultured in the laboratory that was captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Md.

Despite declining case numbers in Washington state, the monkeypox virus, aka MPV, continues to infect at least 20 people a week, according to a new dashboard launched by the state's Health Department.

It's mostly men (97% of cases), people between the ages of 25 and 44, and King County residents who have gotten monkeypox in Washington state. Those same demographic groups have been lining up for MPV vaccines in the largest numbers.

caption: Data showing monkeypox demographic information for Washington state as of Sept. 22, 2022, via an online dashboard for the outbreak from the Washington State Department of Health.

About 3,000 people are fully vaccinated against the virus in Washington, but thousands more started the series of shots and have yet to finish.

The painful rash and illness has hospitalized 15 people in the state, but no one has died from MPV in Washington. King, Pierce and Snohomish counties have seen the most cases so far.

Washington state has recorded a total of 556 cases, so far. A total of 444 of those cases have been in King County, 45 in Pierce, and 27 in Snohomish County.

The vaccine has been most common in King, Pierce, and Spokane counties.

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