State health officials say mpox has been detected in a wastewater sample on Oahu for the first time.
The Hawaii Department of Health said the sample, collected April 13 at a treatment facility on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, tested positive for clade I mpox.
Officials emphasized that no clinical cases of clade I mpox have been identified in Hawaiʻi and the overall risk to the public remains low.
Health officials said detecting the virus in wastewater does not confirm an active case or community spread, but serves as an early indicator to monitor for possible infections.
The Department of Health was first notified of the detection on April 20, with confirmation received on April 24. A follow-up sample collected April 20 tested negative.