The first confirmed case of Clade Ib Mpox has been detected in the United Kingdom, public health officials announced. According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the case had been identified in London in an individual who had recently travelled to several countries in Africa. For the unversed, Clade Ib Mpox is new variant of the virus which has been a cause of concern.
In August, the UKHSA updated its advice to raise awareness of the variant among doctors. This happened after the World Health Organisation declared it to be a public health emergency. The variant has been widely circulating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in recent months and there have been cases reported in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Sweden, India and Germany.
With the first case being declared in the UK, there have been speculations about a potential epidemic outbreak during the winter season. Mpox spreads through close and direct contact with an infected person. This includes skin-to-skin contact, lesions, or bodily fluids of someone with mpox.
It can also spread through respiratory droplets. Animal to human transmission can also occur if a person is bitten by or handles an infected animal. But the actual question is if winter can trigger mpox epidemic? While winter itself cannot directly trigger mpox epidemic, the season can increase the risk of spread.
Cold weather makes people stay indoors - often in poorly ventilated spaces. Lower humidity and weakened immunity in winter months ca.
