The past week has seen two “firsts” in locally acquired diseases in the U.S. that had previously been linked only to travel.
- Clade 1 mpox – Clade 1 is a severe, virulent form of the virus that had been historically found primarily in Africa. Although there had been six previous cases of clade 1 in the U.S., the current California case was the first with no recent travel history. The patient was hospitalized but is now isolating and recovering at home. As discussed in CIDRAP, mpox spreads through direct contact with infectious sores or body fluids, sexual or intimate contact, and touching contaminated items. While the risk of mpox remains low in the U.S., the local case emphasizes the continuing need for surveillance, early response, and vaccination.
- Chikungunya – A case of chikungunya in Long Island not only marks the first case of the mosquito-borne illness in New York, but is also the first locally acquired case in the U.S. Although nearly 90 cases of chikungunya have been reported in the U.S. this year, all those were linked to travel. The virus, passed by the Aedes albopictus mosquito, is rarely fatal but can cause fever and severe joint pain, so its local acquisition is a reminder for all to take precautions against mosquito bites and be aware of symptoms of disease.
With measles also at its highest rate since it was declared eliminated in the U.S., TAG encourages all to know, understand, and be vigilant for the symptoms of these (and all) diseases and to take precautions against infection and transmission, both at your worksite and your home.
Public Health News:
- The WHO recently released a comprehensive global antibiotic resistance surveillance report describing the prevalence of the problem, but also documents where progress is being made. It indicates that the problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues and disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries. It is estimated that one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections worldwide were caused by bacteria resistance to antibiotics. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) remains a problem, with a global level of resistance in bloodstream infections of 27.1% and increases in antibiotic resistance in Gram negative pathogens (including E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella) are reported. 127 countries participate in global AMR surveillance which can help better pinpoint concerns and direct public health resources appropriately.
- Two cases of clade 1 mpox have been reported in Los Angeles County in California. Neither case reported travel to a country where clade 1 is typically found. Clade 2 mpox has been reported in the US since 2022 and typically causes mild illness while clade 1 mpox often causes more severe symptoms. The available Jynneos vaccine is effective against both clades.
- On October 3, 2025, the Japanese Ministry of Health declared the start of the influenza season in the country, as cases are leading to school closures and hospitalizations. As of Oct 10, more than 6,000 cases have been reported. Early starts to the flu season in Japan have been reported for the past few years.
- Australia’s 2025 flu season is winding down after an early start in May and overall high community transmission leading to the country’s worst year for lab-confirmed flu cases. Based on an analysis of circulating strains in the southern hemisphere, it is believed that vaccine effectiveness should be strong.
- Mexico has reported outbreaks of hand, foot, and mouth disease across several states, including Baja California, Tamaulipas, Oaxaca, and Puebla, mainly in children under 5 years old in daycare and school settings.
- A single confirmed botulism case in a 40-year-old man from Calabria in Italy was linked to homemade mushroom preserves. He was treated with antitoxin and has recovered.
