U.S. health authorities confirmed on Saturday the first case of a new variant of monkeypox (mpox) in the country, which had previously been detected in the eastern region of Congo.
The discovery occurred in a patient who recently traveled to East Africa and was treated upon returning to northern California, according to the state's Department of Public Health, as reported by Local 10.
Authorities indicated that the individual is showing improvement in their symptoms and that the risk to the general population is low.
The variant was identified for the first time in eastern Congo, where sporadic cases have been reported.
Health authorities are conducting investigations to trace possible contacts and gain a better understanding of the nature of this new variant of the virus.
Monkeypox, or mpox, is a zoonotic viral disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans and between people.
Although most cases are mild, some variants can lead to serious complications in individuals with weakened immune systems.
This case raises a new alert in global health surveillance as experts monitor potential mutations of the virus that could affect the population.
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