Monkeypox cases are doubling nearly every week in Washington, concerning state health officials as the vaccine supply runs short and the U.S. declares a public health emergency over the outbreak.
In Washington, 166 people have tested positive for orthopoxvirus as of Thursday; all orthopoxvirus cases are likely monkeypox, state Secretary of Health Dr. Umair A. Shah said during a news briefing Thursday. This includes at least two people who were exposed outside Washington but tested positive here.
About 144 of the cases were reported in King County, the state’s most populous. A majority of the people who tested positive in King County live in Central Seattle, the state Department of Health has said.
