UK Reports First Case of Clade Ib Mpox Strain in London

Oct 30, 2024, 03:19 PM

The United Kingdom has reported its first case of the new Clade Ib mpox strain, which appears to spread more rapidly and is potentially deadly. The infected individual, who had recently returned from Africa, is undergoing treatment at the Royal Free Hospital in London. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has stated that the risk to the wider UK population remains low. This development follows a broader global trend, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reporting 38,185 suspected mpox cases, including 8,607 confirmed cases and 1,049 deaths since the beginning of 2024. In Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, six mpox cases have been traced to a single household, prompting quarantine measures and warnings against consuming bush meat and rats.