Sun Nov 17 04:26:12 UTC 2024: ## First U.S. Case of New Mpox Variant Confirmed in California
**San Francisco, CA – November 17, 2024** – California health officials announced today the first confirmed case of a new mpox variant in the United States. The individual, who recently traveled to eastern Africa, is receiving treatment in Northern California and is recovering well. The risk to the public is considered low.
The patient, whose identity has not been released, is isolating at home, and public health officials are contacting close contacts as a precaution. The new mpox variant, initially identified in eastern Congo, spreads through close contact. While it has spread widely in parts of Africa, cases outside the continent have remained limited, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Mpox, a viral disease related to smallpox, is endemic in some African regions. Symptoms can range from mild (fever, chills, body aches) to more severe, including lesions on the skin.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported over 3,100 confirmed mpox cases since late September, primarily in Burundi, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. California health officials emphasized their ongoing monitoring and preparedness efforts to prevent further spread of the virus.
First Piper 