Mpox: Two new infections in London linked to deadly Clade IB strain as UK confirms three cases so far

This brings the total number of confirmed cases in the UK to three.

Both newly diagnosed patients are receiving specialist care at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London. The UKHSA maintains that the risk to the general UK population “remains low.”

The initial case was identified in London last week in a person who recently returned from a trip to Africa. They arrived back in the UK on October 21 and began experiencing flu-like symptoms more than 24 hours later. By October 24, a rash developed, worsening over the following days. Contacts of all three cases are being monitored, with testing, vaccination, and guidance provided as needed to limit further spread.

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.”

Mpox is transmitted between people through direct contact with skin lesions, rashes, scabs, or bodily fluids, as well as through prolonged face-to-face interaction, such as talking, coughing, or sneezing. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, and a skin rash that typically appears one to five days after initial symptoms.

The Clade Ib strain has been circulating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other regions, including Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Sweden, India, and Germany. Recent reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control highlight over 40,000 mpox cases linked to nearly 1,000 deaths across Africa, prompting the WHO to declare the virus a public health emergency of international concern.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said last week that the Government is collaborating with UKHSA and the NHS “to protect the public and prevent transmission.” He added: “This includes securing vaccines and equipping healthcare professionals with the guidance and tools they need to respond to cases safely. We are also working with our international partners to support affected countries to prevent further outbreaks.”