Household Contacts of First Clade 1b Mpox Case in UK Test Positive

Health officials have reported two additional cases of a new strain of the mpox (monkeypox) virus in London, affecting household contacts of the first patient. All three individuals have been infected with the Clade 1b variant of the virus, which was first detected in central Africa and appears to transmit more easily between people.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) stated that the overall risk to the UK population remains low, but further cases are “not unexpected” as the Clade 1b variant can spread quickly within households. The agency is working to identify and contact all individuals who may have had contact with the cases to limit the potential for further spread.

Mpox is typically transmitted through close physical contact, and these new cases do not indicate that the virus has been detected in the wider UK community. However, the Clade 1b variant has caused growing concern, as it seems more adept at person-to-person transmission, including through sexual contact, compared to other mpox strains.

The WHO has already declared mpox a global health emergency, and several African countries have reported cases of the Clade 1b variant this year. The UK, Sweden, India, and Germany have also detected infections linked to travel to affected regions.