San Mateo County Health earns CDC recognition for swift response and managing first U.S. case of clade I mpox late last year

San Mateo County, California – San Mateo County Health’s handling of a rare strain of clade I mpox has attracted national attention with a featured article in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) prestigious Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Published on February 13, 2025, this article emphasizes the county’s vital part in tackling what was the first known case of this strain in the United States.

In November 2024, San Mateo County Health sprang into action upon identifying the country’s first case of clade I mpox, a virus variant previously undocumented in the U.S. but known in Central and Eastern Africa. Through comprehensive lab testing and trace-back to a recent travel history to the impacted areas of Africa, the local health department’s disease investigation and public health laboratory teams confirmed the case.

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Unlike clade II mpox, which has been present in the U.S. since 2022 and features differing severity and transmission modes, clade I presented a unique challenge. The county’s communicable disease investigators initially flagged the case via vigilant surveillance and communication with local healthcare providers. Not just for local but also national public health, hence coordinated actions with the CDC and the California Department of Public Health were needed to properly manage the matter.

The response was multifaceted: attentive patient observation, contact tracking and alerting, and thorough specimen testing. These steps guaranteed quick containment of the virus, therefore preventing any secondary infections or wider illness spread in the community.

Understanding the importance of their effective containment efforts, the CDC asked San Mateo County Health to be the main MMWR author. Staff Physician Dr. Vivian Levy, Communicative Disease Investigator Anna Branzuela, Public Health Laboratory Director Dr. Kristina Hsieh wrote the paper together. Along with investigators Munya Mahiya and Wesley Yuen, Health Officer Dr. Kismet Baldwin-Santana also got special recognition for her contributions to the quick reaction.

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This publication is not only an in-depth overview of successful disease control but also a great tool for doctors since it offers ideas and best practices for handling potential outbreaks. Dr. Levy shared a moment of pride from the response phase:

“I was proudest when a respected CDC colleague who had managed multiple national and international outbreaks said in a call, ‘This is how it is supposed to work,’” said Levy.

The influence of the paper goes beyond medical circles. Following this incident, in early 2025 reports of unrelated travel-related cases of clade I mpox surfaced in Georgia, New Hampshire, and New York. The MMWR’s revelations have already helped medical professionals more successfully spot and handle these subsequent occurrences.

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The MMWR is available through the CDC’s official website for people interested in the complete information of San Mateo County Health’s essential intervention and continuous public health measures. This function emphasizes how important the county is in preserving public health through the use of high awareness and quick reaction.