U.S. health officials announced on Saturday the confirmation of the first U.S. case of a new form of mpox, originally identified in eastern Congo.
The individual, who traveled to eastern Africa, received treatment in Northern California upon returning. Thankfully, their symptoms are improving, and the risk to the public remains low.
Following standard protocols, the person was isolating at home, and health workers are proactively reaching out to close contacts as a precautionary measure.
Mpox is a rare disease caused by a virus in the same family as smallpox. It's endemic in parts of Africa, where infections typically occur through bites from rodents or small animals. Common symptoms include fever, chills, and body aches, while more severe cases may lead to lesions on the face, hands, chest, and genitals.
Earlier this year, scientists identified a new mpox variant in Africa, primarily spreading through close contact, including sexual transmission. Since then, over 3,100 cases have been reported since late September, mostly in Burundi, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Travelers returning from the continent to countries like Germany, India, Kenya, Sweden, Thailand, Zimbabwe, and the United Kingdom have also been diagnosed, though global spread remains limited.
Health officials noted that the situation in Congo is stabilizing, but the Africa CDC estimates that the region needs at least 3 million mpox vaccines to curb the outbreak, with an additional 7 million required for the rest of Africa. Transmission is largely through sexual contact and close interactions among vulnerable groups, including children and pregnant women.
