Mpox strain that may be more severe, easily spread, found in L.A. County for first time

Two cases of a potentially more severe strain of mpox have been confirmed in Los Angeles County this week.

It’s the first time this particular type of mpox, known as “Clade I,” has been found in the United States among people who had no history of traveling overseas to high-risk areas.

The first case, reported publicly on Tuesday , involved a resident of Long Beach. The second, reported Thursday, was in a person elsewhere in Los Angeles County. Both patients had to be hospitalized but are now recovering at home, health officials said.

“While the overall risk of ... exposure to the public remains low, we are taking this very seriously,” Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement. “This underscores the importance of continued surveillance, early response and vaccination.”

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