A new case of Clade lb mpox has been detected in the England, the UK Health Security Agency has said.
The new case – detected in East Sussex in a patient who had recently returned from Uganda where there is currently community transmission of Clade Ib mpox.
The individual is now under specialist care at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
This is the fifth instance of the Clade Ib variant since October 2024 but the latest case has no links to the previous cases identified in England.
The clade Ib variant is a new form of the virus that is linked to a global health emergency declared by the World Health Organization in August.
Deputy director, Dr Meera Chand, said the risk to the UK population “remains low”.
The duputy director added that UKHSA “are working rapidly to trace close contacts and reduce the risk of any potential spread”.
Contacts will be offered testing and vaccination where needed to prevent the infection spreading, the health agency said, who will be told what, if any, further care is needed if they have symptoms or test positive.
“Extensive planning” has been carried out so healthcare professionals are equipped and ready to respond to any further confirmed cases, the agency said.
Clade Ib mpox has been circulating in several countries in Africa in recent months. Imported cases have been detected in a number of countries including Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden and the United States.
It comes as four cases of Clade Ib were previously discovered in the same household in England. These cases have now “fully recovered”.
The Clade Ib variant of mpox, which was previously known as monkeypox, has caused concern across the globe this year following an outbreak in Africa.
Mpox symptoms:
Symptoms of mpox can include a skin rash or pus-filled lesions which can last two to four weeks. It can also cause fever, headaches, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.
The infection can be passed on through close person-to-person contact with someone who has the infection or with infected animals and through contact with contaminated materials. The UKHSA warns that anyone with symptoms should continue to avoid contact with other people while symptoms persist.