The new case was detected in Leeds after the individual returned from a trip to Uganda – which is seeing community transmission of Mpox’s more lethan Clade Ib strain
A new case of Mpox’s more deadly strain, Clade Ib, has been detected in England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said.
It is the fifth case of Clade Ib Mpox confirmed in England in recent weeks, and has no links to the previous cases identified. The latest case was detected in Leeds after the infected individual returned from a trip to Uganda – which is seeing community transmission of Mpox’s more lethan Clade Ib strain.
The patient is now under specialist care at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, with close contacts being followed up by UKHSA and partner organisations. Any contacts will be offered testing and vaccination as needed and advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive.
Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said: “It is thanks to clinicians rapidly recognising the symptoms and our diagnostics tests that we have been able to detect this new case. The risk to the UK population remains low following this fifth case, and we are working rapidly to trace close contacts and reduce the risk of any potential spread.
“In accordance with established protocols, investigations are underway to learn how the individual acquired the infection and to assess whether there are any further associated cases.”
Professor Hopkins, previously said the disease is likely to spread within households, saying: “Mpox is very infectious in households with close contact and so it is not unexpected to see further cases within the same household.”
It comes after the total number of confirmed UK cases rose to four earlier this month, after another person tested positive in a London household. Clade Ib mpox has been widely circulating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya in recent months.
Imported cases have been detected in Canada, Sweden, India, Thailand and Germany. The UKHSA says there has been extensive planning underway to ensure healthcare professionals are equipped and prepared to respond to any further confirmed cases.
