New mpox variant detected in UK; public health risk remains low

According to information provided by "The Guardian", the infected person returned to the United Kingdom on October 21 after travelling to African countries affected by the mpox epidemic. Shortly after returning, they developed flu-like symptoms and then a rash.

On October 27, after a visit to the emergency department, a swab was taken, which confirmed the infection with the new variant of the mpox virus, clade 1b. The patient is currently in a high-risk infectious disease ward at London's Royal Free Hospital.

The UK Health Security Agency, along with other organizations, is analyzing the infected person's contacts. Testing for mpox, vaccinations, and health care advice will be offered to those in close contact. – The risk to the UK population remains low, and we are working rapidly to trace close contacts and reduce the risk of any potential spread, said Dr. Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor at UKHSA.

In August, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global public health threat for the second time in the past two years. The current epidemic, caused by the clade 1b virus variant, began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and spread to neighbouring countries and other nations.

Last month, the United Kingdom ordered over 150,000 doses of the mpox vaccine to increase preparedness for this threat. Mpox is a zoonotic infectious disease transmitted through close contact. It is characterized by flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle pain, as well as pus-filled skin lesions resembling blisters, making it difficult to distinguish from chickenpox.

Mpox virus infection manifests with the appearance of fever, headache, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, general weakness, and the emergence of a characteristic rash.