Health officials in Pitt County, North Carolina, have detected the mpox virus in wastewater samples collected on March 25, 28, and April 8th. The North Carolina Wastewater Monitoring Network conducts routine testing, which revealed a non-infectious strain of the virus.
Pitt County Health Director Wes Gray stated that while finding the virus in wastewater does not indicate a community outbreak, it warrants residents to stay vigilant and take precautions. Residents are advised to learn the symptoms and get vaccinated if eligible. So far, four cases of mpox clade I have been reported in the US, mostly through heterosexual contact.
No cases have been linked to the Pitt County area, but the discovery suggests at least one person had an undiagnosed infection. Mpox is a rare disease with most cases seen in Central and Eastern Africa.
Source: https://www.witn.com/2025/04/21/mpox-detected-pitt-county-wastewater