A downturn in COVID-19 hospitalizations and cases continued for the fifth straight week in both Clark County and Nevada, with the state reporting one of the lowest case rates in the country.

The Southern Nevada Health District announced Thursday that it had received nearly 3,000 additional doses of monkeypox vaccine, as the United States declared a public health emergency to bolster the federal response to the spread of the disease.

Las Vegas’ sewer sleuths, who came to prominence during the pandemic tracking coronavirus through wastewater, are on the trail of another emerging threat: monkeypox.

The Southern Nevada Health District announced Thursday that it had received nearly 3,000 additional doses of the monkeypox vaccine as the U.S. declared a public health emergency to bolster the federal response to the spread of the disease.

Monkeypox virus is being detected in wastewater coming from the Las Vegas Strip and from at least one treatment plant in the region. There are now 23 probable and confirmed cases of the communicable illness in Clark County residents, according to the local health district.

There are now 23 probable and confirmed cases of monkeypox in Clark County as of Aug. 1, according to the Southern Nevada Health District.

23 confirmed and probable cases in Clark County, so far

Monkeypox has been detected in sewage in southern Nevada, suggesting there are more infections than the 23 cases reported in Clark County, a UNLV researcher said Monday.