Health officials on Friday were investigating the possibility of a local spread of a more severe strain of mpox after confirming three cases in Los Angeles County residents who did not travel to regions where the virus is usually found.
The Los Angeles County Public Health Department announced two cases of clade-1 mpox since Thursday, and earlier this week the city of Long Beach’s health agency reported a confirmed clade-I infection.
The three individuals were hospitalized and are now recovering at home, officials said.
The three LA County cases are the nation’s only clade-I infections in individuals without known travel to another country where the mpox strain is typically found, according to the health department.
“The confirmation of a third case with no travel history raises concerns about possible local spread in Los Angeles County,” Dr. Muntu Davis, LA County health officer, said in a statement. “We’re working closely with our partners to identify potential sources and understand how this potentially more serious type of the mpox virus may be spreading.”
Dr. Cliff Okada, Long Beach public health physician, suggested that “anyone with an unexplained rash or lesions should seek care promptly. Speak openly with intimate partners and your healthcare provider. Early action protects you and others,” Okada said in a statement.
Local health officials were working with their state and federal counterparts to investigate the mpox cases.
“Enhanced surveillance and contact tracing are underway to identify any additional cases and potential sources of the infection and to prevent further transmission,” according to LA County Public Health.
For each infection case, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is doing additional testing to identify the virus’s genes, a process called “genomic sequencing,” county officials said.
Clade II mpox causes mild to moderate illness and has been circulating at low levels in the United States since 2022, according to the county. Clade I may be more severe and since 2024 has been connected with outbreaks in African countries.
Clade I and clade II may cause flu-like symptoms followed by a rash and can be spread within households and through close personal contact such as sex, massage or cuddling. Sharing personal items may also spread the virus, health officials said. Swollen lymph nodes are also a symptom of a possible mpox infection.
Laboratory testing of lesions can confirm a diagnosis for both mpox clades.
So far this year, county health officials have confirmed 118 clade II cases.
The health department “strongly recommends” residents get vaccinated with two doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine that helps protect against the clade I and clade II strains.
Officials suggested these groups of people consider the mpox vaccine:
- gay, bisexual, or other men who has sex with men;
- transgender, nonbinary or gender-diverse individuals;
- people with HIV or those taking or are eligible for HIV preexposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, or doxy post-exposure prophylaxis, PEP;
- anyone exposed to someone with mpox in the last 14 days;
- anyone planning to travel to sub-Saharan Africa or areas with clade I mpox outbreaks and anticipates sexual or intimate contact while traveling;
- anyone planning to attend a commercial sex event or venue such as a sex club or bathhouse;
- individuals with a sex partner who meets any of the previous risk factors; or
- anyone who requests mpox vaccination, even if they have not disclosed any risks factors listed above; and
- anyone whose workplace puts them at risk for mpox exposure, such as certain laboratory workers.
Pharmacies throughout LA County offer the mpox vaccine. Officials advised visiting the Bavarian Nordic Vaccine Locator webpage to locate a nearby pharmacy that has the JYNNEOS vaccine. Individuals can also call their health care providers to ask about receiving the vaccine.
Public Health maintains a list of public vaccination sites that carry the JYNNEOS vaccine, which is updated frequently.
Uninsured and underinsured people can access the JYNNEOS vaccine through the PrEP Assistance Program or AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Uninsured and underinsured individuals can also access the vaccine free of charge at county Sexual Health Clinics.
“Appointments and visits as soon as possible are strongly recommended to ensure availability of the limited supply of vaccine,” according to a Public Health statement.
More information on the mpox vaccine is available via 833-540-0473, seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Mpox was previously referred to as monkeypox.
