What You Need To Know
Please see below the NJDOH LINCS message and CDC Health Advisory on the first case of clade I mpox diagnosed in the United States.
Key Points:
CDC issued a Health Advisory via the CDC Health Alert Network to inform clinicians about the first confirmed case of clade I mpox in the United States. The advisory includes recommendations on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and reporting of mpox cases. It is attached to this LINCS message and available online: Health Alert Network (HAN) - 00519 | First Case of Clade I Mpox Diagnosed in the United States
Mpox virus (MPXV) has two distinct genetic clades:
- Clade I (with subclades Ia and Ib): Endemic to some countries in Central Africa, associated with higher transmissibility and more severe disease.
- Clade II (with subclades IIa and IIb): Historically endemic to some countries in West Africa and responsible for the global outbreak beginning in 2022, which continues at low levels in the United States.
Between January 1 and November 15, 2024, about 12,000 confirmed cases of clade I mpox and at least 47 deaths have been reported in Central and Eastern African countries including Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. There have also been travel-associated cases in additional countries.
One case of clade I mpox was reported in California in an individual who had recent travel to Eastern Africa. No additional cases have been identified in the United States to date.
The risk of clade I mpox to the public in the United States remains low, however clinicians should be aware of the possibility of Clade I MPXV in travelers who have recently been in a Central or Eastern African country and who have clinical signs consistent with mpox.