LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The Southern Nevada Health District announced Tuesday the first confirmed case of Clade I Mpox in a Clark County resident.
The individual has no reported travel exposure, according to the Health District.
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The Health District has also reported 11 confirmed cases of Clade II Mpox since August 2026, marking a recent increase in cases. Since the first mpox case was reported in Clark County in June 2022, the Health District has reported 365 cases.
“This first clade I case and the recent increase in clade II cases are reminders that mpox continues to circulate in our community,” said Dr. Cassius Lockett, District Health Officer for the Health District. “We encourage people at risk to get vaccinated and anyone who may have been exposed to seek guidance promptly. Recognizing symptoms and avoiding close contact when sick can also help prevent further spread.”
About the two virus types
Mpox is caused by two types of virus, known as clade I and clade II, according to the Health District. Clade II caused the global outbreak that began in 2022 and continues to circulate at low levels in the United States. A Clade I outbreak spread widely in Central and Eastern Africa in 2024, with cases subsequently identified in other countries, including the United States.
Both types can be prevented in the same ways, and the JYNNEOS vaccine is expected to protect against both, the Health District said.
Mpox spreads primarily through close, sustained physical contact, including sexual or intimate contact, according to the Health District. It can spread through direct contact with a person’s rash, sores, scabs or bodily fluids, including during kissing or oral, anal or vaginal sex. It can also spread through contact with contaminated items, such as clothing, bedding or towels, and during pregnancy or childbirth.
Symptoms typically begin within three weeks of exposure, and illness usually lasts two to four weeks, the Health District said. A rash may appear as bumps or blisters on or near the genitals or anus, or on other areas such as the hands, feet, chest, face or mouth. Other symptoms can include fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, headache, muscle aches and fatigue. Some people develop a rash without other symptoms.
Anyone who develops a new or unexplained rash or other symptoms consistent with mpox should avoid close contact with others and contact a health care provider, according to the Health District. People are advised to call ahead before visiting a health care facility to let staff know about possible mpox symptoms.
The Health District offers mpox vaccination for eligible people ages 18 and older at its immunization clinics. The vaccine is given in two doses, four weeks apart.
Appointments are available on the Southern Nevada Health District website.
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