The United States’ first known case of a more severe strain of mpox was confirmed in California, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Saturday. The risk of clade I mpox to the public remains low,

Health officials on Saturday said they've identified the first person in the U.S. infected with an mpox strain that has recently prompted global health alerts over concerns about its spread, severity and transmissibility.

The first case in the U.S. of a more severe strain of mpox was reported in San Mateo County, the California Department of Public Health said.

Health officials in California confirmed Saturday they have identified the first known case of a more severe form of mpox known as clade I in the United States but said the risk to the public remains low.

A case of clade of I mpox has been confirmed in California, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Saturday, marking the first case of the strain the United States. The CDC said the case was diagnosed in a person who recently traveled from Eastern Africa.

The U.S. has reported its first case of a more aggressive strain of mpox. The WHO declared the virus' spread a public health emergency in August.