An infant in Washington state’s most populous county has contracted monkeypox at a time when the outbreak is growing statewide.
Public health officials held a news conference Thursday to draw attention to the seriousness of this disease, The Seattle Times reported.
State Health Secretary Dr. Umair A. Shah said that while the threat of infection to the general public remains low, the recent pediatric cases are a reminder that anyone can get sick.
This week, the Seattle-King County Public Health agency announced it had confirmed a second case of monkeypox in an infant. Officials said the child in the most recent case possibly contracted the disease from an infected family member. The baby is hospitalized in stable condition and receiving treatment, county officials said.
The state Health Department said a 17-year-old boy also tested positive for monkeypox a few weeks ago.
Shah asked people to remember that monkeypox is a contact-transmitted virus and while it is disproportionately affecting the LGBTQ+ community, anyone could be at risk.
“This is still an outbreak that we are monitoring very closely,” Shah added.
As of Thursday, the state has confirmed 392 monkeypox infections, including 318 in King County. No one has died from the virus in Washington, although several people have been hospitalized for treatment, officials said.
Vaccines remain in short supply locally and nationally.
King County Chief Executive Dow Constantine officially declared the local monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency last week, freeing up additional resources.
The virus can cause a rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and fatigue.
Since April, more than 45,000 monkeypox infections have been reported in 98 countries.
