First Case of Monkeypox Infection Recorded in the U.S.

The California Department of Public Health has announced the first case of the severe strain of monkeypox in the United States.

"The first case of monkeypox clade I has been identified in the United States. The confirmed case is in an individual who recently traveled to Africa and is associated with the current outbreak of clade I," the statement reads.

CNN, citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reports that the patient has been treated at a local healthcare facility and has since been released. According to the network, the infected individual is currently self-isolating at home.

U.S. authorities and the CDC continue to work on identifying additional cases and potential contacts.