California has reported the first U.S. case of MP pox — formerly known as monkey pox — as part of a new outbreak.
The state health department, CDPH, said the new case is a clade I strain — different from the clade II strain circulating in the U.S. since 2022.
The person in question, who is now isolated at home, had recently traveled to Africa and the CDPH said his case was “related to an ongoing outbreak of clade I mpox in central and eastern Africa”.
Mpox was The World Health Organization declared a global health emergency. earlier this year.
CDPH said that while clade I cases have historically caused more severe disease than clade II, “recent infections with clade I mpox may not be as clinically severe as in previous outbreaks”.
Mpox is caused by a virus in the same family as smallpox but is usually much less harmful.
It was originally transmitted from animals to humans but now also passes between humans.
Early symptoms include fever, headache, swelling, back pain and muscle aches. A rash may then develop, which can be extremely itchy or painful.
The infection is self-limiting and lasts between 14 and 21 days, but can be fatal in some cases, especially for vulnerable groups, including young children.
Mpox is most common in remote villages in the tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa, in countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), where it has been observed for many years.
Hundreds of people died during an initial outbreak in DR Congo earlier this year, and the disease has since spread to parts of central and eastern Africa.
Outbreaks can be controlled by preventing infection with vaccines, although these are usually only available to those at risk or those in close contact with an infected person.
