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    • The first UK case of the new clade 1b mpox variant was detected in London
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    The first UK case of the new clade 1b mpox variant was detected in London

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

    The patient flew back to the UK on an overnight flight on 21 October and became unwell more than 24 hours after arriving home. Flu-like symptoms developed on October 22, followed by a rash on October 24 that worsened over the following days. The rash started as raised spots that turned into fluid-filled sores or blisters that eventually broke off and fell off. On October 27, the person presented to an emergency department in London, where he was swabbed for the virus and sent home to isolate pending the results. Laboratory tests confirmed that the infection was Clade 1b mpox.

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

    Professor Susan Hopkins, UKHSA’s 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 ongoing to find out how the person acquired the infection and to assess whether there are other 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 considered to be more dangerous than Clade II, appearing to spread more easily between humans and causing more severe disease. This variant circulated widely in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and spread to neighboring countries, including Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. Cases have also been detected in Germany, Sweden, India and several Asian countries, some linked to travel to affected regions.

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

    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 is distinct from Clade 2 mpox, which has been circulating at low levels in the UK since 2022, mainly among gay and bisexual people,” the agency said. Clade II mpox triggered the global outbreak of the disease in 2022, mainly affecting gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Europe and the United States.

    UKHSA is working with 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 undertaken 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 drives in many countries, including the UK, have helped to reduce the number of mpox cases worldwide. The UKHSA said the country has an existing stock of smallpox vaccines. Last month, the agency announced that new vaccines were being purchased to support a routine immunization program, with more than 150,000 doses ordered to boost preparedness. The decision to procure new vaccines is in line with more recent recommendations from the independent 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 DRC spread to neighboring countries. The WHO lifted the emergency declaration in May 2023 after reporting 140 deaths out of about 87,400 cases.

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

    Mpox has two main subtypes: Clade I and Clade II. Clade 1b, a subtype of Clade I, appears to be more dangerous because it spreads more easily between humans and can cause more severe disease. Clade I mainly affects children, while Clade II is present in the UK as of 2022, infections still occurring at low levels.

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

    The UKHSA stressed the importance of vigilance and public health measures to prevent the spread of the virus. The person’s close contacts will be offered mpox tests, vaccinations and medical advice if they are found to have the virus.

    In recent months, a new mpox outbreak has hit Africa, with the highest infection rates reported in the DRC, 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 worldwide. UKHSA, the NHS and partner organizations have well-tested capabilities to detect, contain and treat new infectious diseases, contributing to the low risk of mpox in the UK.

    Sources: Liverpool Echo, expressandstar.com, LaRepublica.pe, Izvestia.ru, Back to main 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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