On November 16, the California Department of Public Health confirmed the first U.S. case of clade I mpox, a more deadly strain of the virus that circulated several years ago, in a person who had recently traveled to Africa. This case appears to be related to an ongoing outbreak of clade I strains on the African continent.
The infected person was treated in San Mateo County and is currently in isolation until he recovers.
“Those who had close contact with this individual have been contacted by public health workers, and there is currently no concern or evidence that M.P.O.C. Clade I is spreading among individuals in California or the United States,” the department said in a statement. said.
Mpox is caused by infection with the monkeypox virus, which is similar to the virus that causes smallpox.
The disease can be spread from infected animals to humans and is easily spread between humans by close contact between humans through respiratory secretions, infected skin lesions, or contaminated objects such as clothing or blankets. may become infected.
According to the World Health Organization, early symptoms of mpox infection are usually fever, chills, fatigue, headache, and muscle weakness, followed by a rash with painful lesions that crust over and gradually develop over several weeks. Heal.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), clade I viruses are thought to be more transmissible and cause a higher rate of serious infections.
It is also more lethal than its sister strain, clade II, with a mortality rate of 1.4% to 10%.
In August, the World Health Organization declared the rapid spread of Clade I strains in some African countries a “public health emergency of international concern,” the highest alert level under international law.
Health authorities called for an international response to curb the spread of the virus.
Clade II strains of the virus were responsible for the 2022 outbreak and spread rapidly around the world, primarily through sex between men and subsequent sexual contact.
A total of about 100,000 people were infected and 200 died. The mortality rate of this virus generally results in death in only 0.1% to 3.6% of cases.
Occasional outbreaks of clade II infections continue, with occasional spikes in some states, particularly those where people are not vaccinated.
However, the rate of spread of clade II infections has been slowing down primarily due to the following reasons: abstinence Another option is to reduce the number of sexual encounters.
According to the CDC, people infected with mpox should avoid close contact with others to avoid spreading the infection. People should avoid contact with contaminated materials such as clothing, bedding, toothbrushes, sex toys, and materials used in medical settings.
People should clean and disinfect common areas of their homes, notify past sexual partners of past sexual exposures, wash their hands frequently, and use protective equipment such as masks, gowns, and gloves to prevent infection. There is a need.
You can also protect yourself by getting two doses of the orthopoxvirus vaccine, which protects against mpox, and by avoiding close contact with others for 21 days to avoid infection before your body develops immunity to the virus.
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
