Monkeypox and avian influenza have received recent attention in national and global news as cases emerge. Though both viruses pose a low risk to the general U.S. population, knowing the risks and sharing current and accurate information about these diseases remains important.
Monkeypox
Monkeypox, a rare viral disease, occurs in rodents and non-human primates in Central and West Africa. Infections can spread both from animals to humans and between humans once an infection occurs. In the U.S., rare cases of monkeypox have occurred when animals have been imported from areas where the disease is more common or in people who have traveled internationally. No reported deaths have been attributed to monkeypox in the U.S. or in Europe, and the threat of monkeypox to the general U.S. population remains low.
Washington state has reported a series of recent monkeypox cases. The first case was confirmed on May 27, 2022, in King County. On June 28, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed four monkeypox cases and two probable cases in the state. For more information about the current U.S. monkeypox case count, visit the CDC Situation Summary page.
For additional information about monkeypox transmission, symptoms, testing, treatment and vaccination, consult the Washington State Department of Health’s (DOH) Talking Points for Monkeypox document or visit the CDC Monkeypox page.
Avian Influenza
Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is caused by avian influenza Type A viruses that naturally occur in wild aquatic birds throughout the world. Other species of birds and occasionally other mammals may also be infected by the virus. Avian influenza can cause significant mortality among poultry species such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese and guinea fowl. In rare cases, typically in individuals who have had close contact with infected birds, people may contract bird flu viruses and become sick.
In the U.S., the CDC confirmed one positive case of avian influenza in a person in Colorado on April 28, 2022. This person was directly exposed to poultry infected with a bird flu virus. No additional cases have been detected in people in the U.S, although cases have been detected in birds in Washington state. Although avian influenza is a highly contagious disease among birds, the risk of human transmission remains very low.
For more information about avian influenza, consult DOH’s Talking Points for Avian Influenza document or visit the CDC Avian Flu page. For data about the current avian influenza case count in poultry and wild bird populations, visit the Department of Agriculture Avian Influenza page.