US confirms first case of clade I mpox in California

Los Angeles, Nov 17 : The US confirmed its first case of clade I mpox, a more aggressive strain, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The person diagnosed in the state of California recently travelled from Eastern Africa and was treated shortly after returning to the US at a local medical facility and released, Xinhua news agency reported.

The health agency said on Saturday that the new strain mpox's risk to the general US public remains low, while the new case is related to an ongoing outbreak of clade I mpox in Central and Eastern Africa.

Since release, the affected person has been isolated at home and is not on treatment specific for mpox, and symptoms are improving, according to the agency.

Clade II mpox, another strain primarily responsible for the global outbreak in 2022, has been circulating in the US since then.

The agency advised the public to avoid close contact with people with symptoms of mpox or their used materials and to get vaccinated.

According to the agency, people with mpox often get a rash that may be located on hands, feet, chest, face, mouth, and/or near the genitals, including the penis, testicles, labia, vagina, and anus.

The incubation period is three to 17 days.