UK identifies first Mpox variant cluster outside Africa

LONDON, UK: British health authorities have confirmed four cases of a new, more infectious variant of mpox that first emerged in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This marks the first time the variant has caused a cluster of illnesses outside Africa. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reassured the public that the overall risk remains low.
The first case was identified last week in a patient who had recently traveled to countries in Africa where ongoing mpox outbreaks have been reported. The individual is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in London. This week, three additional cases were identified, all of whom are close contacts living in the same household. They too are receiving care at a London hospital.
“We know that mpox is highly infectious in household settings with close contact, so it is not unexpected to see further cases in the same household,” said Dr. Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor at the UKHSA. "At this time, the risk to the general public remains low, and we are closely monitoring the situation."
The new variant of mpox was first detected in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier this year. Initial reports suggest that this strain causes milder symptoms, which may be less noticeable and therefore harder to detect. This makes it easier to spread, as individuals may not realize they are infected.
In response to the rising number of cases in Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global emergency in August, as the virus spread to multiple countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. The WHO also noted the emergence of single cases in travelers returning to Sweden, India, Germany, and Thailand.
To date, there have been over 43,000 suspected cases of mpox in Africa, with more than 1,000 deaths, most of which have occurred in the DRC. In an effort to combat the spread of the virus, the WHO has allocated 899,900 vaccine doses to nine African countries experiencing the worst outbreaks.
The United Kingdom has had previous experience with mpox, having reported more than 3,000 cases during a large outbreak in 2022. That outbreak, which spread to more than 100 countries, highlighted the importance of surveillance and rapid response in controlling the virus.
The UKHSA continues to monitor the situation closely and remains in communication with international health authorities to ensure the public remains protected. The agency emphasized that there is currently no evidence to suggest this new variant poses a significant new threat to the UK population.
While the risk of widespread transmission remains low, health officials are urging people to be vigilant, especially those who have recently traveled to regions where mpox outbreaks are ongoing. The UKHSA continues to offer vaccines to those at highest risk and is working to ensure appropriate measures are in place to control any further outbreaks.