California has confirmed the first case of a new, deadlier strain of mpox in a man who recently traveled to Africa, and public health officials now want to talk to anyone who may encounter this person.
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The new mpox clade I strain has a higher mortality rate than the previous clade IIb strain which caused a global epidemic in 2022 and greatly affected gay men. The World Health Organization declared a global public health emergency due to the spread of the Impox clade strain in August, after cases exploded in Africa.
“The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has identified through laboratory testing the first known case of the I mpox clade in the United States,” CDPH said in a Nov. 16 press release. “This case was confirmed in an individual who recently traveled from Africa and is linked to the ongoing Impox clade outbreak in Central and East Africa.
CDPH went on to say the unnamed person was receiving care in San Mateo County, immediately south of San Francisco. CDPH has not explained how the individual could have contracted mpox, formerly known as monkeypox.
CDPH is contacting anyone who may have encountered the individual.
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In August, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the rapid spread of the mpox clade I strain a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), the highest level of alarm under international law.
“The detection and rapid spread of a new mpox clade in eastern DRC, its detection in neighboring countries that had not previously reported mpox, and the potential for further spread in Africa and beyond are very worrying,” said Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. a press conference called to announce the PHEIC on August 14.
“In addition to other outbreaks of other mpox clades in other parts of Africa, it is clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives. »
Although deadlier and more severe than the clade IIb strain, California authorities have attempted to allay public concerns about a deadly outbreak of the new clade.
“Historically, clade I has caused more severe disease than clade II, however, recent infections due to clade I mpox may not be as clinically severe as in previous outbreaks, particularly when cases have access to quality medical care,” the CDPH said in its press release. release.
Related: New mpox clade that I explained
The Centers for Disease Control echoed CDPH’s statements regarding the clade II strain.
“Historically, clade I mpox has caused more severe illness and death than clade II mpox,” the CDC said in a press release on November 16. “However, recent data demonstrate that I mpox clade infections in the current outbreak may not be as clinically severe as in previous outbreaks.
The CDC recommends the following steps to avoid getting mpox:
- Avoid close contact with people with symptoms of mpox, including those with skin or genital lesions.
- Avoid contact with contaminated materials used by sick people (such as clothing, bedding, toothbrushes, sex toys, or materials used in health care settings)
- And if you’re eligible, get the recommended two doses of the mpox vaccine.
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