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,

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