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    • First case in the United Kingdom of a new clade 1b mpox variant detected in London
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    First case in the United Kingdom of a new clade 1b mpox variant detected in London

    Sakege Posted on

    The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced on October 30, 2024 that it had detected the first case of infection with a new variant of the mpox virus, Clade 1b, in London. The individual had recently traveled to African countries experiencing community cases of Clade 1b mpox.

    The patient flew back to the UK on an overnight flight on October 21 and began feeling unwell more than 24 hours after arriving home. Flu-like symptoms developed on October 22, followed by a rash on October 24, which worsened over the next few days. The rash started as raised spots that turned into fluid-filled sores or blisters, which eventually scabbed and fell off. On October 27, the person went to an emergency department in London, where they were swabbed for the virus and sent home to isolate while awaiting the results. Laboratory testing confirmed the infection to be mpox Clade 1b.

    The patient is currently being treated in a high dependency infectious diseases unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London. Authorities are tracing fewer than 10 household contacts with whom the individual may have had contact. The UK Health Security Agency explained: “All contacts of this person will be offered a test and a vaccine if necessary and will be informed of further care to be given if they develop symptoms or if testing is positive”.

    Professor Susan Hopkins, UKHSA chief medical adviser, said: “The risk to the UK population remains low and we are working quickly to trace close contacts and reduce the risk of any potential spread. In accordance with established protocols, “Investigations are underway to learn how the individual acquired the infection and evaluate whether there are additional associated cases.”

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “We are working with UKHSA and the NHS to protect the public and prevent transmission. The overall risk to the UK population currently remains low.”

    Clade 1b mpox is thought to be more dangerous than clade II, as it appears to spread more easily between people and cause more severe illness. This variant has circulated widely in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and has spread to neighboring countries, including Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. Cases have also been detected in Germany, Sweden, India and several Asian countries, some of them related to travel to affected regions.

    Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral infection related to smallpox that typically causes flu-like symptoms, including fever, muscle pain, and skin lesions. The illness can last two to four weeks. Symptoms include high temperature, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen glands, exhaustion, joint pain, and a characteristic lumpy rash with pus-filled lesions. A rash usually appears one to five days after flu-like symptoms begin.

    The virus is spread through close physical contact, including sexual contact, kissing, hugging, holding hands, and direct contact with a rash or body fluids. It can also be transmitted through coughing and sneezing in close proximity. Mpox has been linked to dangerous complications for pregnant women, including miscarriage.

    The UKHSA noted that this is the first detection of this type of mpox in the UK. “It differs from Clade 2 mpox, which has been circulating at low levels in the United Kingdom since 2022, mainly among homosexuals and bisexuals,” the agency said. Clade II mpox caused the global outbreak of the disease in 2022, primarily affecting gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Europe and the United States.

    UKHSA is collaborating with the NHS and academic partners to determine the characteristics of the Clade 1b virus and further assess the risk to human health. The agency is treating Clade 1b as a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) and will adapt its response as more data emerges. Extensive planning has been carried out to ensure that healthcare professionals are equipped and prepared to respond to any confirmed cases of mpox Clade 1b.

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    Vaccination and awareness campaigns in many countries, including the UK, have helped curb the number of mox cases around the world. The UKHSA stated that the country has stocks of mpox vaccines. Last month, the agency announced that more vaccines are being procured to support a routine immunization program, and more than 150,000 doses have been ordered to improve preparedness. The decision to procure more vaccines is in line with the latest independent advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI).

    Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared outbreaks in Africa a global health emergency in July 2022 due to the rapid spread of mpox, particularly after an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo spread to the neighboring countries. The WHO lifted the emergency declaration in May 2023 after reporting 140 deaths out of approximately 87,400 cases.

    Clade 1b mpox has also been reported in Germany, with one case detected on October 22, 2024. Additional cases have appeared in Sweden and several Asian countries. Clade 1b cases have been recorded in countries that had not previously detected mpox, highlighting the variant’s potential for wider spread.

    Mpox has two main subtypes: Clade I and Clade II. Clade 1b, a subtype of clade I, appears to be more dangerous as it spreads more easily between people and can cause more severe illness. Clade I primarily affects children, while clade II has been present in the UK since 2022, with infections still occurring at low levels.

    Anna Popova, head of Rospotrebnadzor, commented on the global situation: “We decided that we had already survived all the terrible things in the COVID era. Unfortunately, this is not the case.”

    The UKHSA emphasized the importance of surveillance and public health measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Close contacts of the individual will be offered mox testing, vaccinations and healthcare advice if they are found to have the virus.

    In recent months, a new mpox outbreak has been affecting Africa, with the highest infection rates recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi and Nigeria. As of early September 2024, more than 600 deaths from the mpox virus have been reported.

    Vaccination and awareness campaigns have been crucial in reducing the number of cases around the world. UKHSA, the NHS and partner organizations have well-proven capabilities to detect, contain and treat new infectious diseases, contributing to the low risk of contracting mpox in the UK.

    Sources: Liverpool Echo, expressandstar.com, LaRepublica.pe, Izvestia.ru, Back to home page, Yahoo News, France 24, www.elcolombiano.com, Nilepost News, Home, AL24 News

    This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq.



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