San Mateo County well being officers have introduced the nation’s first identified case of a key mpox variant that has fueled an outbreak of the illness throughout Jap and Central Africa.
The county’s well being division stated Saturday they’re working with state and native well being officers in responding to the case of clade I mpox, which an individual within the county contracted whereas touring to Africa. The particular person appeared to have “mild” signs, and is isolating and recovering at dwelling, the well being company stated.
The case marked the primary identified occasion of that individual mpox variant showing in america, including to a comparatively small however rising variety of international locations the world over which have found instances of the variant. A unique variant of the virus, known as clade II, has been circulating within the U.S. since 2022 and has sickened a minimum of 108 individuals within the county and greater than 100,000 individuals worldwide during the last couple years.
The just lately detected variant is understood to case extra extreme sickness, in addition to deaths, than the model that had beforehand been present in america. Even so, native well being officers stated there was “very low risk to the public” from the virus, which may trigger a painful rash, in addition to a fever, chills and muscle aches.
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Initially Printed: November 16, 2024 at 3:32 PM PST
