Long Beach Watch Dog A Long Beach resident with no recent travel history has tested positive for clade I mpox, a more serious version of the mpox virus that first began circulating in the U.S. three years ago, city health officials announced Tuesday.
Though health officials stress that the risk to the public is low, this represents the first case of clade I mpox (previously known as monkeypox) in Long Beach, and the first in the nation without known international travel.
The infected resident required hospitalization and is now isolating and recovering at home, according to the city’s Department of Health and Human Services. City health officials added that they are “conducting a thorough public health investigation” that includes reviewing the person’s possible sources of exposure and are implementing contact tracing procedures.