New Mpox variant spreads to US as health officials monitor global outbreak

Health officials have confirmed the first US case of a new form of mpox, a viral disease previously seen in eastern Congo. 

The individual, who had traveled to eastern Africa, sought treatment in Northern California upon returning. According to the California Department of Public Health, the person's symptoms are improving, and the risk to the public remains low, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Mpox is a rare viral disease related to smallpox, typically found in certain regions of Africa, where it is transmitted through bites from rodents or other small animals.

Earlier this year, researchers identified a new strain of mpox in Africa, which spreads through close contact, including sexual transmission.

Since late September, over 3,100 confirmed cases have been reported globally, with the majority occurring in three African nations—Burundi, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the World Health Organisation.

Since then, cases of the new mpox variant have been reported in travelers from Germany, India, Kenya, Sweden, Thailand, Zimbabwe, and the United Kingdom.

Earlier this month, health officials noted that the situation in Congo seems to be stabilizing. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that Congo requires at least 3 million doses of the mpox vaccine to control the outbreak, with another 7 million needed for the rest of the continent.

By Naila Huseynova