LONDON — Health officials in the United Kingdom have confirmed four cases of the new mpox variant, marking the first cluster of this variant outside of Africa. The latest report indicates all those affected live together, and health authorities maintain the general risk to the population remains low.
The first case of this new strain, identified as the Clade 1b variant, emerged last week when a person who had recently traveled to several African countries returned to the UK and required treatment at a hospital. This prompted the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to monitor the situation closely. Following this initial discovery, officials announced three subsequent cases among individuals residing with the first patient, all of whom are now under treatment at the same London hospital.
Professor Susan Hopkins, UKHSA’s chief medical advisor, explained, “Mpox is very infectious in households with close contact, and so it is not unexpected to see additional cases within the same household.” She reassured the public, emphasizing the overall risk level remained low.
This new variant of mpox, which was first detected months ago in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is believed by scientists to produce milder symptoms, making it more challenging to identify and thereby easier to transmit. Due to its rapid spread, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a public health emergency of international concern earlier this year.
The UK had previously dealt with over 3,000 cases of the mpox virus during the outbreak of 2022, which impacted more than 100 countries globally. Current reports indicate this latest strain has also caused small clusters of infections across several African nations, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, with isolated instances noted among travelers returning from outbreaks.
To date, about 43,000 suspected mpox cases have been documented across Africa, associated with more than 1,000 fatalities, predominantly arising from the outbreak mainly centered in Congo.
On November 6, WHO announced it had administered nearly 900,000 doses of the mpox vaccine to help combat rising infection rates across nine affected African countries. These include Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, DRC, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda. Notably, the DRC remains the epicenter of the disease, accounting for approximately 80% of laboratory-confirmed cases this year.
Experts note the new Clade 1b strain poses significant concerns due to its infectious nature, especially since more than half of the new mpox cases have surfaced among children, complicative the fight against this disease.
The UK has prepared by acquiring additional mpox vaccine doses, planning to inoculate healthcare workers and close contacts of infected individuals. The update to the vaccination program reflects not only local but global public health strategies aiming to minimize the impact of outbreaks both within and beyond African borders.
With the emergence of Clade 1b, careful attention is required as rates of mpox slow down globally following the 2022 outbreak but remain problematic within certain communities.
Public health officials continue to urge those who may have been exposed to go for testing, stay observant for any symptoms, and report them immediately.
