Mpox, which was known as monkeypox until 2022, has been confirmed in the UK, and there’s a brand-new variant of the potentially fatal disease now, which was found in one person in the country.
The variant, known as Clade 1b, was confirmed in the country by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
“This is the first detection of this Clade of mpox in the UK,” UKHSA says.
A rash is one of the early symptoms of mpox (Getty Stock Images)
Mpox global health emergency
It comes after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared mpox a global health emergency in the summer of 2024.
The case of the mpox Clade 1b variant was confirmed in a UK patient who had recently returned from part of Africa, where the variant is currently spreading. He began feeling sick around a day after landing back in the country.
The case was detected in London, and the individual was transferred to the Royal Free Hospital High Consequence Infectious Diseases unit. No further details are being disclosed about the individual, UKSHA and the NHS says.
Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said: “It is thanks to our surveillance that we have been able to detect this virus. This is the first time we have detected this Clade of mpox in the UK, though other cases have been confirmed abroad.
“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. 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.”
Blistering on the hands is a sign of mpox (Getty Stock Images)
Symptoms of mpox
Doctor John Burke, CMO of AXA Health, told LADbible about four main symptoms to look out for when it comes to mpox.
“Given there have been declared outbreaks of the virus in Africa, it’s understandable that the UK population may be worried about the virus spreading,” Dr Burke said.
“However, the risk to the UK population is currently low.”
The four common symptoms to keep an eye on are:
- The appearance of a rash that looks like blisters across the face and body
- High temperature and chills
- Headache, muscle aches, back pain, and a feeling of exhaustion
- Swollen lymph nodes
Dr Burke added: “These symptoms can be confused with other infectious illnesses, particularly chicken pox. At the current time in the UK, a history of travel to Africa or exposure to a known case are important features and advice from a health professional is needed if there are concerns.
“If you do contract the virus, it is usually mild and most people recover within a few weeks without any treatment, and there is an effective vaccine.”
Harun Tulunay in hospital with mpox (Harun Tulunay/WHO)
‘Horrendous high fever and pain, I couldn’t eat or move’
Harun Tulunay, from London, caught mpox in the summer of 2022 during the last major outbreak of the virus. Speaking about his experience to Sky News, Harun revealed that flu-like symptoms were the first to manifest.
Harun suffered from a high fever and muscle aches across his body.
After this, lesions and scars started to appear across his body.
He said: “After two weeks of horrendous high fever and pain, I wasn’t able to move or drink or eat anymore – at that point I was hospitalised.”
Harun received the mpox vaccination against future strains of the virus. Now, he wants it to be rolled out across the world, especially so in Africa, where infections are spreading worse than anywhere else.
