San Francisco Reports Its First Clade I Mpox Case - What to Know and How to Find a Vaccine

Key Points:

• San Francisco Department of Public Health confirmed the city's first clade I mpox case in an unvaccinated resident who was hospitalized but is improving; the patient had close contact with an international traveler.
• Clade I mpox, historically more severe and associated with higher fatality rates, has caused over 53,000 cases and 200 deaths in Central and Eastern Africa since 2024, with increasing cases detected globally, including 15 in the U.S. since late 2024.
• Clade I differs from the less severe clade II strain that caused the 2022 Bay Area outbreak, though SFDPH is still assessing whether clade I causes more severe disease in the U.S.; risk remains low for individuals outside higher-risk groups.
• Mpox spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, especially during intimate or sexual contact, and symptoms include flu-like illness followed by painful rashes or lesions; incubation can range from 3 to 17 days.
• The two-dose Jynneos vaccine, effective against both clade I and II, is recommended for higher-risk groups such as men who have sex with men, transgender persons, people living with HIV, and those traveling to outbreak areas; vaccines are available through healthcare providers and select clinics in San Francisco.