Health officials in Los Angeles County said on Friday they are investigating a possible local spread of a more severe strain of mpox.

Two cases of the strain were identified among Los Angeles County residents with no recent travel history.

It comes after the first U.S. case of the more severe strain of mpox without known travel was identified in a patient from Long Beach, California, bringing the total number of cases in the state to three.

No clear link has been identified between the Los Angeles cases and the Long Beach case, according to Los Angeles County health officials.

"The confirmation of a third case with no travel history raises concerns about possible local spread in Los Angeles County," Dr. Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County health officer, said in a press release. "We're wor

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