California mpox cases raise concerns. But health officials say the risk remains low

NEW YORK — Two Californians diagnosed with mpox may be the first U.S. cases resulting from the local spread of a different version of the virus, health officials said.
The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services this week confirmed the first case through testing at a state lab. Los Angeles County health officials on Thursday reported a second, similar case.

Officials say the risk to the public is low.

These are not the U.S. first cases of what is known as clade I mpox. But all six previous cases were among international travelers who were believed to have been infected abroad.
Both infected people in California were hospitalized, and they are now recoveri …