Health officials are urging four groups of people to come forward for vaccines against mpox when offered, as cases of a new variant were detected in the UK for the first time. In an update the UK Health Security Agency warned that three cases of the Clade Ib strain of mpox have now been found.
This comes as the first case was reported on October 30. These two new cases are household contacts of that first case.
The two patients are currently under specialist care at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London.
The Clade Ib variant of mpox, which was previously known as monkeypox, has caused concern across the globe this year following an outbreak in Africa.
This strain of the disease differs from Clade II, a variant which has been circulating at low levels in the UK since 2022.
Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at UKHSA, said: “Mpox is very infectious in households with close contact and so it is not unexpected to see further cases within the same household.
“The overall risk to the UK population remains low. We are working with partners to make sure all contacts of the cases are identified and contacted to reduce the risk of further spread.
“Contacts of all three cases are being followed up by UKHSA and partner organisations. All contacts will be offered testing and vaccination as needed and advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive.”
Symptoms of mpox can include a skin rash or pus-filled lesions which can last two to four weeks. It can also cause fever, headaches, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.
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But it can be severe and even fatal in vulnerable people including in those with weakened immune systems, young children and pregnant women. This most recent outbreak of this strain is thought to have started in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Africa, where 5,399 cases and 25 deaths were reported in the first nine months of 2024.
It has since spread to other parts of the continent where the number of suspected cases of mpox this year now stands at 42,438, with 8,113 confirmed, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
And at least 1,000 mpox deaths have been reported in Africa, leading the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare a global health emergency for the second time in two years. Other cases of Clade Ib have also been reported in Germany, Sweden, Thailand and India.
The infection can be passed on through close person-to-person contact with someone who has the infection or with infected animals and through contact with contaminated materials. The UKHSA warns that anyone with symptoms should continue to avoid contact with other people while symptoms persist.
Vaccines
The NHS has said it is “fully prepared” respond to cases of Clade Ib in the UK. Steve Russell, NHS national director for vaccination and screening, said: “Since mpox first became present in England, local services have pulled out all the stops to vaccinate those eligible, with tens of thousands in priority groups having already come forward to get protected, and while the risk of catching mpox in the UK remains low, if required the NHS has plans in place to expand the roll out of vaccines quickly in line with supply.”
According to the UKHSA, the vaccine will be offered to those eligible in stages as it becomes available over time and based on clinical need.
The Government has agreed that the following four groups should be offered vaccination, based on expert advice:
- Gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) previously identified at higher risk of coming into contact with mpox as a continuation of the clade II mpox vaccination programme, as advised by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in November 2023 – planning is under way for how and when the vaccine will be rolled out as part of this existing programme
- Certain healthcare workers in agreed infectious diseases inpatient units and sexual health services
- Certain specialist healthcare and humanitarian workers who go to affected countries to work within mpox response or sites with active outbreaks following a risk assessment
- Close contacts of a confirmed case to lower their risk of becoming infected and reducing their risk of severe disease.
Symptoms
If you get infected with mpox, it usually takes between five and 21 days for the first symptoms to appear, the NHS says.
The first symptoms of mpox include:
- A high temperature (fever)
- A headache
- Muscle aches
- Backache
- Swollen glands
- Shivering (chills)
- Exhaustion
- Joint pain.
A rash usually appears one to five days after the first symptoms. It can be on any part of the body, including the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, mouth, genitals and anus. You may also have anal pain or bleeding from your bottom.
The rash is sometimes confused with chickenpox. It starts as raised spots, which turn into sores (ulcers) or small blisters filled with fluid. The blisters eventually form scabs which later fall off.
