Deadlier Mpox Strain Detected in California: First U.S. Case Confirmed

A patient in California has become the first in the US to be infected with the more deadly Clade I strain of monkeypox, which has a fatality rate of up to 10%. The patient, who recently returned from East Africa, is recovering at home in isolation. The CDC states the public risk is low as the disease spreads through direct contact. The Clade I strain is more severe than the Clade II strain, which has been circulating in the US since 2022. Efforts to control the outbreak include vaccination campaigns, particularly targeting high-risk groups.