New Case of Mpox Clade 1B Variant Detected in the UK
The sixth case of the Clade 1B mpox strain in the UK involves a patient with travel history to Uganda, receiving treatment in London.
A new case of the mpox virus, identified as the Clade 1B strain, has been detected in the United Kingdom.
This marks the sixth confirmed case in the country since October of last year.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed that the patient is receiving specialist care at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust in central London after returning from Uganda.
The case emerged in East Sussex, and UKHSA has noted that the risk to the wider UK public remains low.
Efforts are underway to trace and monitor close contacts of the infected individual to mitigate any potential spread.
Dr. Meera Chand, Deputy Director at UKHSA, credited rapid clinical response and advanced laboratory capabilities for the swift detection and handling of the case.
The Clade 1B variant of mpox has been circulating in several African nations in recent months.
The variant has also been reported in several other countries, including Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, and the United States, as imported cases.
Mpox is a viral disease caused by the mpox virus, which belongs to the orthopoxvirus family, alongside the variola virus known for causing smallpox.
While transmission of mpox is mainly from animals to humans, it can also occur between humans through close physical contact.
The virus attracted global attention in 2022 when it surfaced in numerous non-endemic countries, spreading across regions such as Europe and North America.
This marks the sixth confirmed case in the country since October of last year.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed that the patient is receiving specialist care at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust in central London after returning from Uganda.
The case emerged in East Sussex, and UKHSA has noted that the risk to the wider UK public remains low.
Efforts are underway to trace and monitor close contacts of the infected individual to mitigate any potential spread.
Dr. Meera Chand, Deputy Director at UKHSA, credited rapid clinical response and advanced laboratory capabilities for the swift detection and handling of the case.
The Clade 1B variant of mpox has been circulating in several African nations in recent months.
The variant has also been reported in several other countries, including Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, and the United States, as imported cases.
Mpox is a viral disease caused by the mpox virus, which belongs to the orthopoxvirus family, alongside the variola virus known for causing smallpox.
While transmission of mpox is mainly from animals to humans, it can also occur between humans through close physical contact.
The virus attracted global attention in 2022 when it surfaced in numerous non-endemic countries, spreading across regions such as Europe and North America.
