The United Kingdom has confirmed its first case of a variant mpox (monkeypox) infection on Wednesday.
Sky News reported that the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) identified one case of the Clade 1b variant mpox infection in London. However, there is currently no evidence that the virus has spread within the community.
The infected individual returned to the UK on October 21 after traveling to Africa and is now receiving treatment at a hospital in London.
Germany also reported its first Clade 1b infection earlier this month.
In recent months, the Clade 1b mpox has been detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, India, and Sweden.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency for the first time in two years after at least 1,000 cases of mpox were reported in Africa.
Dr. Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor at UKHSA, noted that mpox and the Clade 1b variant are transmitted through physical contact, contact with infected animals, or sexual intercourse, with gay and bisexual men being at the highest risk.
However, Dr. Hopkins emphasized that despite identifying this variant case, the current risk to the UK population remains low.
