UK officials have identified the first reported case of a new mpox strain, commonly called monkeypox. The UK Health Security Agency announced this on Wednesday, and according to experts, it is still not a significant threat to the public. This case was reported in London in a patient who recently returned from Africa, the region that thrives for this particular variant.

 Clade Ib Variant and Global Health Concerns

This mpox variant, clade Ib, occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo and is declared by the World Health Organization as an emerging global health emergency. The following days after the first outbreaks, the illness was documented in several more African countries, specifically Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya. Among the international cases are those in Sweden, India, and Germany. The said variant seems to be of a different kind from that of the clade II, as its spread across the globe was very keenly felt during the year 2022, mainly among men who have sexual contact with other men.

Mpox, otherwise known as the monkeypox virus infection, is a disease that involves symptoms of a disease with symptoms which initially include fever and headache before developing lesions appearing full of pus. Usually, this is a moderately mild infection, and one would become fatal to life, especially with regards to variant clade Ib, due to the reasons that this may cause severe form as well compared to that of clade II since it involves contact among all types of physical connections between people.

In light of these facts, the case in the Uk is under Close Monitoring.

A specialist hospital treats a patient recently returned to the UK from an infected African area. “Close contacts are being followed up, and precautionary measures are being offered, such as testing and vaccination,” UKHSA said. We are taking all necessary precautions to contain any further transmission,” UKHSA further stated. However, information related to the patient is a confidential matter.

Overall threat outside Africa is controlled even though mpox continues posing a severe health risk to populations in parts of Africa as confirmed and suspected cases reached more than 44,000 and deaths more than 1,000 reported- mainly in Congo; however, the UK measures are in line with measures on international health measures set in place to track contain, and prevent further virus spread, especially emerging such as clade Ib.

The health authorities have called on the public to remain calm and informed. Early detection and isolation protocols are in place to control the situation. The UKHSA is working closely with its partner organizations to monitor the situation and undertake containment measures as required.