Mpox virus detected in Pitt County wastewater sample; no reported infections
PITT COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT) — Pitt County health officials are urging awareness and caution after Mpox virus was detected in wastewater samples.
The samples were collected Mar. 25, Mar. 28 and Apr. 8 through routine testing. The virus found in wastewater is no longer infectious, but it shows that people in the area may be carrying the virus, even if they don't have symptoms.
At this time, the risk to the public remains low and no cases have been reported in North Carolina. However, the detection suggests there may have been at least one person with an undiagnosed or unreported infection in the area at the time.
'Finding the virus in wastewater doesn't mean there is a community outbreak, but it does mean we need to stay alert,' Pitt County Health Director Wes Gray said. 'We encourage residents to learn the symptoms, take precautions, and get vaccinated if they are eligible.'
Vaccines are available to protect against mpox infection from both types and can reduce the severity of illness if an infection does occur.
Information about vaccine recommendations and where to find vaccine is available on the NCDHHS mpox page at www.ncdhhs.gov/mpox.
Mpox symptoms include:
A rash on the hands, feet, chest, face, mouth, or genital area
Rash that resembles pimples or blisters, eventually scabbing and healing
Fever, chills, fatigue, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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