California health officials have confirmed the first known U.S. case of the more severe clade I strain of mpox in a Riverside County resident who recently traveled to the Middle East. The individual has fully recovered and is no longer contagious, according to Riverside County Public Health.

This case follows a separate confirmation by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) of another clade I mpox infection in San Mateo County , linked to travel to Africa. While both cases are connected to international outbreaks, officials emphasize that the risk to the general public remains “very low" and there is no evidence of ongoing transmission of clade I mpox within California or the broader U.S.

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