California‘s Department of Public Health has reported the state’s first positive test for a type of mpox known as Clade Ib. The person who tested positive was diagnosed in San Mateo County, near San Francisco, after returning from a visit to East Africa, The New York Times reported.
As the patient now isolates at home, health officials are reaching out to other people who may have had recent contact with the person. At this time no other cases of Clade Ib have been reported anywhere else in the country, officials said. However, other cases have been found in Germany, Sweden, Thailand, the United Kingdom and other countries.
Everything known so far about Clade I, Clade II and Clade Ib mpox
While the virus has been mostly found in people who are coming from certain areas of Africa, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that the U.S. is still at a low risk.
“The anticipated overall risk of Clade I mpox to the general population in the United States from the outbreak in Central and Eastern Africa is low,” the CDC stated, per The Times.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, has two virus types known as Clade I and Clade II. The Clade II breakout in 2022 affected about 100,000 people in 116 countries and killed about 200 people. Most of the affected people were gay and bisexual men.
Who has been impacted most by Clade Ib mpox?
Clade Ib, which mainly spreads through contaminated meat or contact with infected animals and people, has caused about 1,200 deaths since January. Many of the affected people are children. The virus, which can also spread sexually, has an incubation period of three to 17 days.
Symptoms of Clade Ib mpox
People who are infected may see severe rash on their hands, feet, chest, face, anus or genitals. The CDC recommends two doses of the Jynneos vaccine for people at risk. The Clade Ib subtype has particularly impacted the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.
