Health authorities announced on Saturday that they have identified the first case of a newly recognized variant of mpox in the United States, which was initially detected in eastern Congo.
The patient had traveled to eastern Africa and sought medical care in Northern California after returning home, as reported by the California Department of Public Health.
The patient’s condition is improving, with officials indicating a low risk to the general public.

Mpox is a rare viral disease from the same family as smallpox and is endemic in specific regions of Africa, where infections typically occur through bites from rodents or other small animals.
Earlier this year, researchers alerted the public to a newly emerging variant of mpox in Africa that is transmitted through close physical contact, including sexual activity.

Since late September, the World Health Organization has documented over 3,100 confirmed cases of this new mpox variant, predominantly in three African nations: Burundi, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Since the initial outbreak, travelers infected with the new form of mpox have been reported in various countries, including Germany, India, Kenya, Sweden, Thailand, Zimbabwe, and the United Kingdom.

Despite the alarming reports, health officials noted earlier this month that the situation in Congo seems to be stabilizing.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that at least 3 million mpox doses are needed in Congo alone to curtail the spread of the disease, in addition to another 7 million doses required for the rest of the continent.

This current outbreak appears to differ markedly from the global surge of mpox seen in 2022, during which a significant majority of cases were reported among gay and bisexual men.

In conclusion, while the emergence of this new mpox variant raises concerns, health officials are closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary steps to mitigate the spread.