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  • LA confirms cases without travel history
    The Imvanex vaccine is one of two available vaccines that are used to protect against the mpox virus. Vaccines were widely used during the 2022 mpox outbreak. But currently no vaccines are available in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has reported thousands of cases so far this year.
    L.A. County confirms a second case of the more severe strain of mpox not linked to travel.

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    L.A. County now has two confirmed cases of a more severe strain of mpox — the first cases in the country without any recent travel history.

    What’s new: The L.A. County Department of Public Health confirmed a case of clade I mpox in an adult Thursday, the second case in the country with no recent travel. Officials say the person was hospitalized and now is recovering at home. Earlier this week, Long Beach confirmed a separate case — also without known travel history.

    Why it matters: Officials say the clade I strain of mpox can be more severe than clade II and has been recently linked to some African countries since 2024. It can spread more easily; both strains are spread through close personal contact like massage or cuddling, in addition to sex.

    What’s next: Public health officials say they’re conducting contact tracing to identify any additional cases and to prevent transmission. Officials are urging people in high-risk groups to get vaccinated.

    Read on ... for what we know about the latest cases.

    The first two cases in the U.S. of a more severe strain of mpox not linked to travel have been confirmed in L.A. County.

    On Thursday, the L.A. County Department of Public Health confirmed a case of clade I mpox in an adult who officials say was hospitalized and now is recovering at home. Earlier this week, Long Beach, which has its own public health department, confirmed a separate case — also without recent travel history.

    While there have been other cases of the clade I illness nationally, these are the first without known travel to regions where the virus usually is found. The strain had been linked to outbreaks in some African countries since 2024, officials said.

    "The identification of cases of clade I mpox, which may cause more severe illness than the more common clade II, is concerning," said Muntu Davis, L.A. County’s health officer.

    While clade II causes mild to moderate illness, clade I may be more severe and can spread more easily, officials said. Both strains are spread through close personal contact, like touching a lesion or sex, and by sharing personal items. Symptoms include lesions, rash, fever and body aches.

    How to find a vaccine
    • Your primary care doctor can get you vaccinated if you have one. L.A. County health clinics also offer the two-dose vaccine for free. Keep in mind, it takes about six weeks to become fully vaccinated and protected. You can find a public health clinic here.

    Officials are urging people who may be at higher risk to get vaccinated, including men who have sex with men, people who are immunocompromised and those planning to travel to places with ongoing mpox outbreaks. If you have symptoms, officials say you should contact your medical provider and get tested.

    So far in 2025, there have been 118 cases of the less severe, clade II mpox reported in L.A. County. Last year, the county reported a total of 220 cases with a sharp uptick in cases reported during the fall.

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