A rare mpox strain has been confirmed in the United States for the first time.
No deaths have been reported, according to the CDC.
An emerging strain of the mpox virus has been reported by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) as the first known case in the U.S., according to a CDPH release on Saturday.
A traveler who recently returned from Africa was found to have the "clade I mpox" strain, which is currently circulating in that region. Despite this, the risk to the public is still considered "very low," according to officials with the CDPH.
An individual with a travel history to East Africa and symptoms is currently in isolation at home in San Mateo County.
Recent cases of the clade I mpox strain, historically associated with more severe illness, have shown milder clinical presentations when patients receive medical care.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been informed of the case by CDPH, and specimens from the patient are being sent for further laboratory analysis.
Officials are reaching out to individuals who may have been near the patient, despite no evidence of community transmission of clade I mpox in California or the nation.
Both clade I and clade II mpox are mainly transmitted through close, intimate, or sexual contact. The CDPH has assured the public that the risk of mpox transmission through casual contact, such as in offices, classrooms, or stores, is minimal.
The latest strain of COVID-19 primarily spreads through close contact and has the potential to cause severe illness and fatalities. It was first identified in the eastern Congo.
Over 31,000 cases of mpox have been confirmed worldwide since September, with the majority occurring in Burundi, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the World Health Organization.
In addition to the United States, the CDC has identified travel-related cases of the new mpox strain in countries such as Germany, India, Kenya, Sweden, Thailand, Zimbabwe, and the United Kingdom.
Travelers to Central and Eastern Africa should be aware of the ongoing clade I mpox outbreaks and follow enhanced precautions advised by the CDC.
According to the CDC, no deaths have been reported from the new strain yet.
Planet Chronicle Digital's request for comment from the CDPH was not immediately responded to.
health
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