The first case of a new strain of mpox in the United States has been reported in San Mateo County, officials said Saturday.

The county of San Mateo has now had the first reported case of clade I mpox in the United States, according to the California Department of Public Health (CPDH). What is mpox? Mpox is an infectious disease that can cause a painful rash,

The first known case of a new, more severe strain of mpox in the US has been found in the Bay Area. San Mateo County Health said the patient contracted the new strain, clade I mpox categorized by having more severe illness symptoms and death, after traveling to Eastern Africa, where an ongoing outbreak of clade I mpox is underway.