WHO Declares Global Health Emergency Over New Mpox Clade Ib Strain, UK Confirms 3 Cases

Nov 4, 2024, 08:22 PM

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global health emergency over a new strain of mpox, a viral infection spreading in Africa. This very infectious Clade Ib strain has been detected in the UK, with two additional cases confirmed, bringing the total to three. The affected individuals are household contacts of the first UK case. Despite the rise in cases, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) states that the risk to the UK population remains low. The outbreak in Burundi has led to a critical shortage of medicines, straining the capacity of local hospitals. Meanwhile, countries are reconvening to finalize a global agreement on handling future pandemics, with the urgency heightened by the presence of mpox, Marburg, and H5N1 outbreaks. Globally, Sweden, India, Germany, Thailand, and the UK have reported cases.