EVERETT — A second case of monkeypox in Snohomish County was confirmed this week, according to the Snohomish Health District.
The agency confirmed the first case in the county July 8. Kari Bray, a spokesperson for the health district, said both patients were men and the two cases were not linked.
As of Thursday, there have been a total of 1,470 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the United States this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
On May 27, the Washington State Department of Health reported the first case of monkeypox in the state. There had been 42 cases in Washington as of Friday, almost tripling the figure from the previous week.
Teresa McCallion, spokesperson for the agency, said the Department of Health expects monkeypox rates to increase more rapidly in Snohomish County and other counties that recently had their first cases.
Last week, the CDC announced they would be giving 398 two-dose courses of monkeypox vaccine to Washington state as part of the first phase of the federal government’s vaccine strategy. McCallion said the state has received more doses since then, but that supply is “still severely limited.”
Most of the Phase I doses will be used to vaccinate close contacts of confirmed and probable cases, she said. She explained the vaccine can reduce the risk of getting monkeypox if a person is vaccinated within four days of exposure. If a person gets the vaccine between four and 14 days after exposure, it can reduce symptoms, but may not prevent the disease.
Cases in the state have primarily been men who have sex with men, but anyone who is sexually active with multiple partners or with someone who has multiple sexual partners can be at higher risk, McCallion explained.
To protect yourself from monkeypox, the state Department of Health recommends practicing safe sex and avoiding physical contact with anyone who has open wounds, sores or rashes.
McCallion said anyone with symptoms of monkeypox, or anyone who has been in close contact with someone diagnosed with monkeypox in the last three weeks, should contact a health care provider to find out if they should be tested.
Natalie Kahn: 425-339-3430; natalie.kahn@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @nataliefkahn.
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