Follow-Up on Yakima Health District Meeting with Local Providers: Monkeypox

| August 30, 2022

The Yakima Health District held a zoom meeting with local providers about monkeypox on Wednesday, August 24 at 12:00pm. Melissa Sixberry, Director of Disease Control at the Yakima Health District and Dr. Neil Barg, Health Officer presented on the current state of the monkeypox outbreak, how it spreads, symptoms, when providers should test someone for monkeypox, what treatment is available, and vaccine eligibility.

A recording of the video is available here.

Additionally, below are resources that were discussed in the meeting for clinicians and patients:

For clinicians:

Monkeypox Information for Providers

Suspect Monkeypox Intake Form

Monkeypox: When to Test

WA DOH: Monkeypox

For patients:

Monkeypox: What You Need to Know, WA DOH (English, Spanish)

Yakima Health District’s Monkeypox webpage (English, Spanish)

Monkeypox Frequently Asked Questions, CDC

Monkeypox in Yakima County

Yakima County currently has five individuals who have tested positive for monkeypox. Yakima Health District staff is working with the individuals who tested positive for monkeypox to identify close contacts. The close contacts are being provided the JYNNEOS vaccine to prevent further spread.

Reporting

Report possible monkeypox cases immediately upon suspicion. Any patient who is tested for monkeypox is considered a probable case, regardless of the index of suspicion. Call the reporting line at (509) 249-6541. We will help you complete an intake form and review exposure guidelines to evaluate close contacts.

For providers completing the intake form and sending it via fax to (509) 381-3526, it is important to fill it out completely and provide photographs of the lesions.

Do not wait for test results to report. This allows us to start case investigation as soon as possible.

Questions?

Questions? Contact Yakima Health District at (509) 575-4040 or (509) 249-6541.

More information