A New Mpox Threat Emerges in California

Mpox, a virus known for causing flu-like symptoms and painful sores, has a new, more severe strain spreading in California. This strain, called Clade 1, has been found in three people who hadn't traveled outside the U. S. It's the first time this strain has spread locally in the country. Clade 1 is not new. It has been causing infections and deaths in Africa for years. But until now, it hadn't spread from person to person in the U. S. The milder strain, Clade 2, caused a big outbreak in 2022. It's still around, but cases are low. However, some cities like Los Angeles have seen a recent increase in cases. The three people infected with Clade 1 were from Long Beach and Los Angeles. They were all hospitalized but have since gone home to recover in isolation. Officials haven't found any links between these cases.Health experts are worried. They think this new strain could cause more severe illness. The virus can spread through close contact, shared items, or living together. It can take up to three weeks for symptoms to show up, so people might not know they have it and could spread it unknowingly. Symptoms include fever, tiredness, headache, and a rash that turns into painful sores. The CDC recommends vaccination for people at higher risk, like those with multiple sexual partners or certain health conditions. Two doses of the Jynneos vaccine can prevent severe illness. But there's a bigger problem. Recent cuts to health programs could make it harder to control outbreaks. Experts say the infrastructure built during the 2022 outbreak is being dismantled. This could make it difficult to understand and contain future outbreaks.