WRAL staff

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, has been detected in wastewater samples from a sewage plant in Greenville, NC. Samples from the plant tested in late March and early April indicate that someone in Greenville during that time had the virus. 

There are two genetic types of the Mpox virus, known as clade I and clade II. The type found in Greenville’s wastewater was clade I.

“The detection of clade I mpox virus in wastewater surveillance tells us the virus is potentially here in our state, even though no cases have been reported and confirmed,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai.

While no Mpox cases have been reported in the state, Sangvai urged doctors and other health care providers to be on the lookout for people showing the symptoms. Any Mpox infection should be reported to the local health department or the NCDHHS Division of Public Health’s 24/7 epidemiologist on-call number: 919-733-3419.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mpox infection is characterized by rash on hands, feet, chest, face or mouth, or near the genitals and symptoms like fever, chills and swollen lymph nodes. Mpox is primarily spread by prolonged close contact, typically skin-to-skin, often during sexual activity. 

“We encourage people who are at higher risk to protect themselves by getting vaccinated,” Sangvai added. Those vaccines are available by appointment at all North Carolina county health departments.