US health officials have confirmed the first case of a new form of Mpox virus that was first seen in eastern Congo. According to the California Department of Public Health, the person had traveled to East Africa and was treated in Northern California upon return.

Doctors say his symptoms are now improving and the risk to the public is low.

The state health department has informed us that the person has now been isolated at home and health workers are reaching out to close contacts as a precaution.

Earlier this year, scientists reported the emergence of a new form of Mpox in Africa that was spread through close contact including through sex.

Since late September, over 3,100 confirmed cases of Mpox have been reported, primarily in Burundi, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the World Health Organization. Cases of the new form have also been detected in Germany, India, Kenya, Sweden, Thailand, Zimbabwe, and the United Kingdom.

Health officials have indicated that the situation in Congo appears to be stabilizing. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that Congo requires at least 3 million Mpox vaccines to curb the spread, with another 7 million vaccines needed for the rest of Africa.

Health officials earlier this month said the situation in Congo appears to be stabilizing. The Africa CDC has estimated Congo needs at least 3 million Mpox vaccines to stop the spread, and another 7 million vaccines for the rest of Africa. The spread is mostly through sexual transmission as well as through close contact among children, pregnant women, and other vulnerable groups.

Mpox is a rare disease caused by infection with a virus that’s in the same family as the one that causes smallpox. It is endemic in parts of Africa, where people have been infected through bites from rodents or small animals. Milder symptoms can include fever, chills, and body aches. In more serious cases, people can develop lesions on the face, hands, chest, and genitals.

The current outbreak is different from the 2022 global outbreak of Mpox where gay and bisexual men made up the vast majority of cases.

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