Additional Coverage:
First Case of New Mpox Strain Reported in the US
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has identified the first known case of a new strain of the mpox virus in the United States. The individual, who had recently traveled to East Africa, is currently in isolation at home.
The new strain, known as “clade I mpox,” is historically associated with more severe illness than the strain responsible for previous outbreaks in the US. However, recent cases suggest milder symptoms if patients receive medical care.
The CDPH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are monitoring the situation and contacting close contacts of the infected individual. There is no evidence of community transmission of the new strain in California or the rest of the country.
Both clade I and clade II mpox spread primarily through close skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact. Casual contact poses minimal risk of transmission.
The CDC has issued enhanced precautions for travelers to Central and Eastern Africa, where clade I mpox outbreaks are ongoing. No deaths have been reported from this new strain.