The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first U.S. case of Clade I Mpox on Saturday, AP reported.
The patient, who had recently traveled to Eastern Africa, was treated in Northern California and released after experiencing mild symptoms.
The individual is isolating at home with improving symptoms and is not receiving specific treatment. Health authorities are monitoring close contacts, but the public health risk remains low, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Mpox, a viral disease related to smallpox, can cause symptoms ranging from fever to skin lesions. The disease spreads through direct contact, including bites from infected animals and human interaction. While Clade I is endemic to parts of Africa, recent outbreaks in travelers have been limited.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported over 3,100 confirmed cases since late September, mostly in Burundi, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. To control the outbreak, the Africa CDC estimates the continent needs at least 10 million vaccine doses.
Unlike the 2022 global outbreak, which primarily affected gay and bisexual men, the current African outbreak is also affecting children, pregnant women, and other vulnerable groups.