First case of deadly new strain of mpox detected in UK as WHO activates Global Health Emergency measure
The first case of a potentially deadly strain of the mpox virus called Clade 1b has been detected in Britain.
The person involved developed flu-like symptoms more than 24 hours later and, on October 24, started to develop a rash, which worsened in the following days.
The person attended an emergency department in London on October 27, where they were swabbed, tested and sent home to isolate while waiting for the results.
They have now been transferred to the Royal Free Hospital high-consequence infectious diseases unit for treatment.
Fewer than 10 people who are thought to have come into contact with the patient are initially being traced, the UKHSA said.
These are household contacts, although the UKHSA is “still working” on the number of people it may have to contact trace.
Mpox is a viral disease that causes fluid-filled skin lesions, fever and, in severe cases, death. It’s spread through close contact with an infected person’s skin, sores, scabs, bodily fluids, or respiratory droplets.
The latest strain – Clade 1b – is gripping parts of Central and West Africa. It has infected more than 25,000 people, and led to almost 1,000 deaths since it was detected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo last year.
It has also spread beyond the continent.
Thailand confirmed its first case of suspected Clade 1b in August, following Sweden, Thailand, Pakistan and the Philippines.
In response to the current outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, in collaboration with member states, have activated the Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC) for the first time.
GHEC is a grouping of professionals with the objective of strengthening the response to health emergencies and a collaboration platform for countries and health emergency networks.
It supports countries on their health emergency workforce, the surge deployment of experts and the networking of technical leaders.
The first activation of this new support mechanism follows the declaration of mpox as a public health emergency of international concern by WHO Director-General Doctor Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on 14 August 2024.
“WHO and partners are supporting the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries to implement an integrated approach to case detection, contact tracing, targeted vaccination, clinical and home care, infection prevention and control, community engagement and mobilization, and specialized logistical support,” said Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme.
“The GHEC enhances the ability of the many effective responders at national and regional levels to collaborate and ensure the success on the ground in interrupting transmission and reducing suffering.”
Emergency measures are warranted.
Unlike Clade 2, which was confined to men having sex with men, Clade 1b is spreading more widely through heterosexual contact, pregnant women and children.
It also has a higher death rate than Clade 2, which sparked the 2022 UK outbreak.
Eighteen African countries have reported mpox cases this year, and the rapid spread of clade 1b mpox to at least two other regions has raised concerns about further spread.