UK Confirms First Clade 1b Mpox Case in London; Risk to Public Remains Low

Oct 30, 2024, 03:39 PM

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed the first UK case of the Clade 1b mpox strain, detected in London. The patient, who developed symptoms shortly after returning from Africa, has been transferred to a high-level isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital. This marks the UK's first detection of this strain, making it the fifth country to report an imported case of Clade 1b mpox, alongside Sweden, Thailand, Germany, and India. The Clade 1b strain is considered potentially more transmissible between people. Despite this, UKHSA states that the risk to the UK population remains low.