One new case of monkeypox has been diagnosed in a patient on Maui, the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) announced Thursday. There are now 12 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the state.
The latest case puts monkeypox in every county. The Maui case is linked to travel outside of the state, DOH said.
“The risk to most Hawaii residents remains low, but action now is essential for protecting public health. We continue to ensure that case investigation continues, and that testing and vaccination are available—especially in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by this outbreak,” said Deputy State Epidemiologist Dr. Nathan Tan in a press release following the diagnosis on Maui.
With cases increasing across the US, the Biden Administration on Thursday officially declared a public health emergency.