Mpox has been declared a ‘global emergency’ by the World Health Organisation (WHO) - and our map reveals where it has been detected in England. The first case of a new infectious strain of mpox has been detected in Europe after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared outbreaks in Africa a global emergency. The WHO's stark warning comes as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other African nations grapple with a significant surge in mpox infections, elevating it to a "public health emergency of international concern".
This critical status has previously been assigned to Covid -19, Ebola, and the 2022 European mpox outbreak. Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) indicates that there were 269 recorded cases of mpox in England during 2023 and 2024. A staggering 116 mpox infections are believed to have been contracted within the UK, with another 82 linked to overseas travel and 71 still under investigation.
The UK has yet to encounter the clade I strain of mpox that's causing alarm in Africa. Professor Dimie Ogoina, at the helm of WHO's Emergency Committee, highlighted the alarming rise in cases and the emergence of a new sexually transmissible strain of the mpox virus, stating: "It is an emergency, not only for Africa, but for the entire globe". Formerly known as monkeypox, mpox is a contagious disease triggered by a virus, leading to symptoms akin to flu such as fever, muscle aches, and distinctive skin rashes or pus-filled lesions that persist for two to four weeks.
Transmission can occur through direct contact with an infected person or animal. There are primarily two variants of the mpox virus, referred to as "clades". Clade I, which is currently rampant in Africa, is deemed more severe.
In the UK, the mpox outbreak has predominantly affected gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. So far in 2024, there have been more than 15,600 cases of mpox and 537 deaths, which the WHO said exceeds last year’s total. In the past year up to June's end, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has been notified of 90 potential mpox cases through statutory notifications of infectious diseases (NOIDs).
These NOIDs are crucial alerts that GPs must send to the UKHSA upon diagnosing a suspected case of certain infectious diseases, including mpox, acting as an early indicator of potential outbreaks. London is the hotspot for suspected mpox cases, especially in Lambeth with 10 diagnoses and Southwark with eight, but signs of the disease have also emerged in Manchester, Suffolk, and Yorkshire. Dr Meera Chand, Deputy Director at UKHSA, reassured: "The risk to the UK population is currently considered low.
However, planning is underway to prepare for any cases that we might see in the UK. "This includes ensuring that clinicians are aware and able to recognise cases promptly, that rapid testing is available, and that protocols are developed for the safe clinical care of people who have the infection and the prevention of onward transmission." Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of WHO, expressed his concern, saying: "The emergence of a new clade of mpox, its rapid spread in eastern DRC, and the reporting of cases in several neighbouring countries are very worrying.
On top of outbreaks of other mpox clades in DRC and other countries in Africa, it's clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives.".
