The Washington State Department of Health, along with the University of Washington, identified the virus in wastewater samples on September 24, 2025. Following this, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department began working closely with the CDC and state officials to expand testing. So far, no human cases have been reported in Pierce County, though six travel-related cases have been confirmed in other parts of the country.How Does Mpox Spread?Mpox can spread to humans either from animals or through direct human-to-human contact. There are two main types: Clade 1, which is more severe and linked to higher death rates, and Clade 2, which is typically milder. While Clade 2 circulates mostly in West Africa, Clade 1 is common in Central Africa.Transmission of Mpox can occur through:Direct contac

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