PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department), in coordination with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), has confirmed a case of clade I mpox (previously known as monkeypox) in a Long Beach resident with no recent travel history. This is the first case of clade I mpox in Long Beach, the seventh case nationally and the first without known travel. The person required hospitalization and is now isolating and recovering at home.

The risk to the public remains low and the Health Department is conducting a thorough public health investigation, including a review of the person’s potential sources of exposure such as social and travel history, and is implementing contact tracing procedures. At this time, no additional cases of clade I mpox have been identified in Long Beach.The City is working closely with health officials at CDPH and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to monitor the situation, educate health care providers and the community and determine whether there are additional cases in Long Beach and surrounding areas.

“While the overall risk of mpox clade I exposure to the public remains low, we are taking this very seriously and ensuring our community and health care partners remain vigilant so we can prevent any more cases,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “This underscores the importance of continued surveillance, early response and vaccination.”

Clade I mpox is a strain historically associated with more severe illness and has been primarily identified in Central and Eastern Africa. This strain differs from clade II, which was linked to the 2022–23 outbreak in the United States and typically causes milder disease. Symptoms may include rash or lesions, fever, chills, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes and body aches.

Mpox can spread through specific behaviors, regardless of a person’s race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation. It is spread through direct contact with infectious sores or body fluids, sexual or intimate contact (e.g. hugging, cuddling or kissing), and touching contaminated items such as bedding or clothes. Anyone who develops an unexplained rash or lesions should avoid sex and intimate contact and seek medical evaluation as soon as possible. Most people recover within 2-4 weeks, but antiviral treatments may be considered for individuals with or at risk of developing severe illness.

While the risk to the public remains low, CDPH recommends vaccination for people who may be at increased risk of exposure. This includes people who are gay or bisexual and men who have sex with men, transgender and non-binary people, people who are immunocompromised (e.g. those with HIV), someone who was exposed to a person with mpox, those with occupational exposure, and people planning to travel to areas with ongoing mpox outbreaks. The available vaccine, JYNNEOS, provides protection against both clade I and clade II mpox. Currently, people who have completed the two-dose series are not recommended to receive a booster.

Vaccines are available through local pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens. Residents are encouraged to call ahead to confirm JYNNEOS availability or use the statewide mpox vaccine locator at EmpoweredAgainstMpox.com to find a provider.

“We are working with state and federal partners to identify the source, notify potential contacts and provide access to testing and vaccination,” said Dr. Cliff Okada, Long Beach Public Health Physician. “Anyone with an unexplained rash or lesions should seek care promptly. Speak openly with intimate partners and your healthcare provider. Early action protects you and others.”

In 2025, there have been seven mpox cases reported in Long Beach, including the recent clade I mpox case. The clade I classification was confirmed through testing conducted by CDPH, with additional testing underway in coordination with the CDC.

Residents may call the Long Beach Health Department’s HIV/STI resource line at (562) 570-4321 for guidance related to vaccination, symptoms or reporting concerns.

For more information about mpox, visit longbeach.gov/mpox. People are also encouraged to follow @LongBeachCity and @LBHealthDept on Instagram, Facebook, and X.

About the City of Long Beach 
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. More information about the Long Beach Health Department is available at longbeach.gov/health and on Instagram, Facebook and X.