Community · Valley-wide
Southern Nevada Health District confirms first clade I mpox case in a Clark County resident with no travel exposure
The Southern Nevada Health District reported the county's first confirmed clade I mpox case, in a resident with no reported travel exposure, as clade II cases also rise. Vaccination is available for eligible adults.
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What happened
The Southern Nevada Health District said Tuesday that a Clark County resident has been diagnosed with the county's first confirmed case of clade I mpox, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. In a release, the district said the person has no reported travel exposure.
The announcement comes as the district also tracks the other form of the virus. According to the Review-Journal, the Health District has reported 11 confirmed cases of clade II mpox since August 2026, which it described as a recent increase.
Case totals since 2022
Clark County's first mpox case was reported in June 2022. Since then, the Health District has reported 365 cases in total, according to the Review-Journal.
What the district health officer said
Dr. Cassius Lockett, District Health Officer for the Health District, said in the release that the new clade I case and the rise in clade II cases "are reminders that mpox continues to circulate in our community," the Review-Journal reported.
Lockett encouraged people at risk to get vaccinated. He also urged anyone who may have been exposed to seek guidance promptly, and said that recognizing symptoms and avoiding close contact while sick can help prevent further spread.
How clade I and clade II differ
The virus that causes mpox comes in two types, called clade I and clade II, according to the Review-Journal. The two have followed different paths over the past several years.
Clade II
Clade II is the type behind the global outbreak that started in 2022. The Review-Journal reported that it still circulates at low levels in the United States.
Clade I
In 2024, a large clade I outbreak spread widely across Central and Eastern Africa. Cases were later identified in other countries, including the United States, the Review-Journal reported.
Same prevention for both
According to the report, both types can be prevented in the same ways. The JYNNEOS vaccine is expected to protect against both clade I and clade II.
Where to get vaccinated
The Health District offers mpox vaccination at its immunization clinics for eligible people ages 18 and older. The vaccine is given as two doses, four weeks apart, the Review-Journal reported.
Appointments can be made at www.SNHD.info/immunizations. The district's advice centers on vaccination for people at risk, prompt guidance after a possible exposure, and avoiding close contact when sick. Readers can find more local health and neighborhood coverage in our community section.
Why the district is speaking up now
The Health District paired its announcement of the clade I case with a reminder about the recent clade II increase. Lockett described both as signs that the virus is still present locally, and he tied the district's message to vaccination and symptom awareness.
The release did not describe the resident's condition or how the infection was acquired beyond noting that there was no reported travel exposure, based on the Review-Journal's report.
What to watch next
- Further Health District reporting on clade II cases, which reached 11 confirmed since August 2026.
- Vaccination appointments for eligible residents 18 and older, available through www.SNHD.info/immunizations.
- The two-dose JYNNEOS schedule, with doses given four weeks apart, for people who start vaccination now.
