UK confirms two new locally-transmitted mpox cases
Published on 06/11/2024
The two cases mark the first known household transmission of the new mpox variant in Europe.
The United Kingdom has confirmed two locally transmitted cases of the new, contagious mpox strain, Clade Ib, raising the country’s total to three confirmed cases.
These latest cases were found in individuals living in the same household as a person who tested positive soon after travelling to several African countries currently experiencing outbreaks.
“The overall risk to the general population in the United Kingdom and wider region remains low, but local transmission of clade Ib mpox should be the impetus for health systems across our Region to heighten their surveillance measures and prepare for rapid contact tracing of suspected and confirmed cases,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, the World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for Europe.
This strain of mpox was initially detected within Europe in Sweden and Germany when both countries confirmed Clade Ib in individuals with recent travel history to Africa.
Since then, however, no additional cases or local transmissions have been reported, according to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
While this marks the first instance of local transmission of this mpox strain in Europe, the UK Health Security Agency (HSA) said that the healthcare professionals are prepared to respond to any additional confirmed cases.
"Mpox is very infectious in households with close contact and so it is not unexpected to see further cases within the same household,” professor Susan Hopkins, the agency’s chief medical adviser, said in a statement.
“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,” she added.