At a glance:
- A retrospective pilot study of mpox cases reported between May and September 2022 in King County, Washington assessed whether whole genome sequencing of monkeypox virus specimens could have aided the public health response.
- Sequencing data were linked to case investigation data for 126 mpox cases, 30% of cases from the pilot period.
- All sequences belonged to Clade IIb lineage B.1, but clustered into multiple sub-clades, suggesting multiple introductions to King County.
- Routine and real-time whole genome sequencing likely could have supported public health mpox response in determining if cases were likely exposed locally or outside the region, investigating epidemiologic linkage between cases, and distinguishing between long-term chronic infection and reinfection when repeat diagnostic tests return positive.