Trending Now - California Promotes Mpox Vaccination Amid New Strain in SF
WHO:
Los Angeles Times - Steven Mitchell, project director with the People Concern, received the mpox vaccine at a clinic in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Times - Dr. Erica Pan, director of the California Department of Public Health and state public health officer, emphasized the importance of vaccination for high-risk individuals.
KQED - The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) provided information on mpox transmission and vaccination recommendations.
WHAT:
Los Angeles Times - California health officials are urging high-risk residents to get vaccinated against mpox after a more-severe strain, Clade I, was detected in San Francisco.
Los Angeles Times - The Clade I strain was identified in an unvaccinated adult who required hospitalization, marking the seventh Clade I mpox case in California.
Los Angeles Times - There have been 14.5 cases of mpox per week in California in 2026, compared to 3.4 cases per week in 2025 and 5.8 cases per week in 2024.
KQED - San Francisco has reported over 1,000 cases of Clade II mpox since the 2022 outbreak, with the average of new cases dropping to under two per week.
WHERE:
Los Angeles Times - The Clade I strain was detected in San Francisco.
Los Angeles Times - Clade I was first detected in California in San Mateo County in November 2024 and in Los Angeles County in October 2024.
KQED - The Bay Area has seen occasional detections of Clade II mpox in wastewater.
WHEN:
Los Angeles Times - The Clade I strain was first detected in California in November 2024.
Los Angeles Times - The case in San Francisco was announced in April 2026.
KQED - The initial outbreak of mpox in the U.S. began in 2022.
WHY:
Los Angeles Times - Health officials are concerned about Clade I infections as they may cause more severe illness and spread more easily than Clade II.
KQED - The CDC noted that Clade I cases in Europe and the U.S. are likely related to intimate or sexual exposure among men who have sex with men.
HOW:
Los Angeles Times - Vaccination is recommended for high-risk individuals, including those with weakened immune systems and those who have close contact with infected individuals.
KQED - The mpox vaccine (brand name: Jynneos) is a two-dose series, with maximal immunity building two weeks after the second dose.
(UPDATED April 18, 2026 19:18 UTC)
California health officials are urging high-risk residents to get vaccinated against mpox after the more severe Clade I strain was detected in San Francisco, marking the seventh case of this strain in the state. Steven Mitchell, project director with the People Concern, received the mpox vaccine at a clinic in Los Angeles, while Dr. Erica Pan, the state public health officer, highlighted the importance of vaccination for those at risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has provided guidance on mpox transmission and vaccination recommendations, emphasizing that Clade I infections may lead to more severe illness and spread more easily than the previously identified Clade II.