Reports from the French Ministry of Health or major news outlets

France Detects First Case of Mpox Variant Clade 1b in Brittany Woman Linked to Central Africa Contacts

Jan 7, 2025, 01:53 AM

France has identified its first case of the new mpox variant, known as clade 1b, in a woman in Brittany who was treated at the CHU de Rennes. The patient, who had not traveled to Central Africa, was in contact with two individuals returning from the region. The case was confirmed by the French Ministry of Health, which has initiated investigations to trace the source of the infection and identify all potential contacts. The clade 1b variant, which has been circulating in Central Africa, is considered more transmissible and dangerous than previous strains. This detection follows similar cases reported in Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Belgium since the summer of 2024. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) assesses the risk of infection for the general population in France and Europe as low, but notes that sporadic cases linked to regions with intense viral circulation may occur. The health authorities emphasize the importance of vaccination for high-risk groups and contacts.