LONDON - A single case of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox linked to the recent outbreak in parts of Africa, has been detected in the UK. It is part of the Clade 1b outbreak, which appears to spread more easily between people. Mpox was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization in the summer.
The UK patient had recently been on holiday in at least one of the affected countries in Africa and began to feel sick 24 hours after flying home. The patient developed flu-like symptoms on 22 October and a rash two days later. An mpox rash of pus-filled lesions can last for up to a month.
Other symptoms include fever, headaches and low energy. Laboratory testing confirmed it was Clade 1b. This form of the virus has been causing mounting concern due to the way it spreads.
Its close relative Clade 1a is largely connected to exposure to infected animals or eating bush meat. But Clade 1b appears able to spread more easily from person to person through close physical contact. The infected UK patient is being treated at the Royal Free Hospital’s specialist high consequence infectious diseases unit in London.
In Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda have all reported cases of Clade 1b mpox this year. Clade 1b appears to be milder than 1a, although it’s difficult to know for certain because precise figures on the exact numbers of people infected are hard to pin down. The patient’s close contacts, which include housemates, are being t.
