The case comes as Clark County has recorded 11 confirmed clade II infections since August. The district’s health officer, Dr. Cassius Lockett, said the cases show that mpox continues to circulate locally and urged people at risk to get vaccinated and anyone who may have been exposed to seek medical guidance promptly.

Clade I and clade II are types of the virus that causes mpox. Clade II drove the global outbreak that began in 2022 and continues to circulate at low levels in the United States. A large clade I outbreak spread in Central and Eastern Africa in 2024, with cases subsequently identified in other countries, including the U.S.

Mpox spreads mainly through close, sustained physical contact. Transmission can occur through direct contact with a rash, sores, scabs or bodily fluids, as well as through contaminated clothing, bedding or towels. Symptoms typically start within three weeks of exposure, and illness usually lasts two to four weeks. They may include a rash, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, headache, muscle aches and fatigue; some people develop a rash without other symptoms.

The JYNNEOS vaccine is expected to protect against both clades, and the health district offers vaccination at its immunization clinics. People with suspected or confirmed mpox are advised to stay home, avoid close physical or sexual contact, cover sores and avoid sharing personal items. Isolation should continue until all sores have healed, scabs have fallen off and new skin has formed.