First case of Clade 1b mpox detected in UK
One instance of mpox, which was previously referred to as monkeypox, associated with the recent rise in cases in certain regions of Africa, has been reported in the UK.
This is associated with the Clade 1b outbreak, which seems to transmit more readily among individuals.
In the summer, the World Health Organization announced that mpox was a global health emergency.
The patient from the UK had just returned from a trip to one of the impacted African countries and started to feel unwell a day after arriving back home.
On October 22, the patient experienced symptoms similar to the flu, followed by the appearance of a rash two days after.
An mpox rash consisting of pus-filled bumps can persist for as long as a month. Additional symptoms may include fever, headaches, and fatigue.
The UK patient who has been infected is receiving care at the specialized high consequence infectious diseases unit at Royal Free Hospital in London.
Laboratory tests confirmed that the infection was of the Clade 1b type. This variant of the virus has been raising increasing worries.
It seems to be transmitted more readily from one individual to another through direct physical interaction, such as sexual activity, compared to other strains of mpox.
This year, Clade 1b mpox has been reported in several African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Burundi, and Rwanda.
Clade 1a, which is closely related, is mostly associated with coming into contact with infected animals or consuming wild game.
Clade 1b seems to be less severe than 1a, but it's hard to say for sure since obtaining accurate statistics on the total number of infected individuals is challenging.
The patient's close contacts, including those living in the same home, are being identified. It's believed that there are fewer than ten individuals involved.
"This is the first occasion we’ve identified this strain of mpox in the UK, although there have been confirmed cases in other countries," stated Prof Susan Hopkins, the chief medical advisor at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
She stated, "The threat to people in the UK is still minimal, and we are quickly taking steps to track down anyone who may have been in close contact and minimize the chance of any possible transmission."
Sweden, India, and Germany have reported instances of this mpox strain associated with travel to regions where it is prevalent.
This outbreak is distinct from the one that mainly impacted gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in 2022, known as Clade II. Cases of mpox are still occurring, but at a lower frequency.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting stated that the government is collaborating with UKHSA and the NHS to safeguard the public and reduce the spread of infections.
"This involves acquiring vaccines and providing healthcare workers with the necessary resources and information to safely handle cases."
