Three California residents are infected with treasure I MPoxof a more severe strain of the virus formerly known as monkeypox is the first time this type of smallpox has spread in the United States, health officials said Friday.
The unlinked cases identified in Long Beach and Los Angeles counties involve patients with no recent travel history. According to the department, all three were hospitalized and are now recovering. California Department of Public Health.
Mpox is a viral infection that often begins with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills and muscle aches. They are usually followed by a rash that starts as small raised spots, then develops into fluid-filled blisters and then scabs.
The virus has two main genetic groups, or “clades.” Clade I mpox has caused widespread illness and death in parts of central and eastern Africa, with particular severity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Clade II caused an outbreak in the US in 2022, which has been circulating at low levels since then.
“The presence of clade I requires careful evaluation,” said Seth Blumberg, assistant professor of medicine at the University of California. CaliforniaDepartment of Infectious Diseases and San Francisco Hospital Medicine.
“I don't think the historical results we've seen in Africa are directly translatable, but we need to keep a close eye on these cases.”
Dr. Rita Nguyen, the state's assistant public health officer, said in a statement Friday that “cases of Group I mpox can be severe” and “the risk of severe illness and hospitalization is highest for people with weakened immune systems.”
“It is very important to protect yourself by getting both doses of the MPOX vaccine if you or your sexual partner(s) are at risk of contracting MPOX,” she said.
Anyone can become infected with mpox through close physical contact, including sex. Past outbreaks of clade II the first to suffer gay and bisexual men, and transgender or non-binary people who have sex with men. The California Department of Public Health now believes that person-to-person spread of clade I is occurring in California, primarily affecting these communities.
In Long Beach officials announced the first case on Tuesday.
This was reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). six previous cases in the US of clade Iall this is related to traveling abroad. The first was discovered in San Mateo County in 2024. Officials said the overall risk to the public remains low and casual contact in places such as offices or public transport is unlikely to spread the virus.
The Jynneos vaccine protects against both mpox clade I and clade II. It is a series of two doses given a month apart, with full immunity achieved two weeks after the second dose. The booster is not recommended at this time.
Vaccination does not completely eliminate the risk of contracting Ompox, but experts say it can help reduce the severity of the disease if a person contracts the disease.
“The vaccines are completely protective,” Bloomberg said. “Vaccines can prevent the severity of the disease. If you were to become infected with MPox, you would be unlikely to require significant care.”
The CDC said it is unknown how long protection from vaccines may last or whether protection may decline over time. website. The public health agency is reviewing current data and conducting studies to better understand how the Jynneos vaccine works in the current smallpox outbreak and how long protection may last.
