Gov. Inslee issues order to combat monkeypox in Washington state

Joining efforts to fight the monkeypox outbreak in Washington state, Gov. Jay Inslee issued a directive to help the Washington State Department of Health’s ongoing efforts.

Since the first case was confirmed in May, there were nearly 11,000 monkeypox cases in the U.S. and 254 cases across Washington as of Aug. 11

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According to a media release, the directive orders the following:

• Conducting comprehensive public outreach and education within appropriate communities.
• Prioritizing equitable distribution of existing treatments.
• Supporting provider education to ensure MPV vaccine is maximized.
• Monitoring case counts and demographic data.
• Convening a series of roundtables with key stakeholders and legislators.
• Working with and supporting local health jurisdictions.
• Maintaining adequate testing capacity and addressing identified reporting gaps.

Although rarely fatal, monkeypox can be extremely painful and scarring. Existing vaccines help prevent infection and reduce the severity of the illness. Currently, there are no deaths related to monkeypox in Washington state.

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