Although this is the first case of mpox clade I reported in the US, thousands of cases have been reported worldwide.
The first case of MPOX clade I was found in California, but the risk to the public remains low, public health officials said Saturday.
According to the Center for Disease Control, there are two types of mpox, clade I and clade II. Each type has its own subclade that “has different characteristics, such as who they affect, how they are spread, or even how many deaths they cause.”
However, the case announced on Saturday is the first of the clade I species found in the country.
The person with the virus had recently returned to California after a trip to East Africa, where the strain (clade I mpox) has hit several countries, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a news release. State and federal health officials said the risk to the public from this first U.S. case is low.
The person is in isolation and people who were in contact with him are being contacted by health officials, USA TODAY previously reported. Here’s what you need to know about mpox, formerly known as monkeypox.
Mpox cases in the US, around the world
Although this is the first case of clade I announced in the US, 3,004 cases of mpox clade II have been recorded since January 1, 2024, according to CDC data.
The number of mpox cases in the US comprises roughly 14% of the total clade I and II cases reported worldwide this year (21,370), according to the CDC, while 11,911 cases have been reported in countries with only clade I mpox.
State health officials say there is no evidence that the mpox clade I strain is spreading between people in California or elsewhere in the US.
Mpox symptoms
Clade I has historically led to more severe disease compared to clade II, the species associated with other US cases of mpox. California health officials said recent infections indicate the clade I strain may not be as clinically severe compared to previous outbreaks, especially when people have access to quality medical care.
According to the World Health Organization, symptoms of MPOX include:
- Painful rash with ulcers
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Back pain
How does it spread?
Mpox, which is from the same virus family as smallpox, spreads from animals to humans, and was given the former name Monkeypox because this is the animal in which it was first discovered.
The virus spreads among people through close contact and exposure, including but not limited to the following, according to the WHO:
- Sexual contact
- Bodily fluids
- Lesions on the skin or on an area such as the mouth or throat
- Respiratory particles
- Contaminated objects
How to prevent the spread
People can take the following steps to prevent the spread, according to the CDC:
- Avoid close contact with people infected with the virus, including people with skin or genital lesions
- Do not come into contact with things that have been touched by people infected with the virus, such as clothing, bedding, toothbrushes, sex toys, or objects and materials used in healthcare settings
- Receive both recommended doses of the mpox vaccine
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