IMPORTANT please read – Emergence of Clade Ib mpox cases in the UK

Posted by: julieriley - Posted on:

You are likely to have seen news of the current outbreak of Clade I mpox in Central and Eastern Africa. This is distinct from the 2022 multi-country outbreak of Clade II mpox. Clade I mpox is a High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID), causing more severe disease with a higher mortality rate. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Clade Ib mpox as a public health emergency of international concern, and it is the NHS’s duty to ensure maximum readiness to respond to outbreaks. The current risk to the UK population remains low; however, on 30 October 2024 the first case of Clade Ib mpox was detected in the UK, a travel-associated case in London and subsequently four household contacts have had positive tests. On 28 November 2024, we were notified that a case has been detected in Leeds. The individual had recently travelled to an affected country and is now being cared for in an HCID unit. Close contacts of the case are being followed up by UKHSA and partner organisations. Any contacts will be offered testing and vaccination as needed and advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive. Clade I mpox (HCID)

If you have any symptoms and you, or someone you have been in contact with, have travelled to any of the countries below in the last 21 days, please do not visit a GP or health centre. Instead, call 111 or your GP practice. You will be assessed and referred to the appropriate team.

Countries affected (as at 28 November 2024)

*Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Cameroon, Gabon, Sudan, South Sudan. Consider neighbouring countries at risk (Angola, Tanzania, Zambia (subject to change – please visit GOV.UK for the most up to date information).

Symptoms

  • a high temperature (fever)
  • a headache
  • muscle aches
  • backache
  • swollen glands
  • shivering (chils)
  • exhaustion
  • joint pain

A rash usually appears 1 to 5 days after the first symptoms. It can be on any part of the body, including the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, mouth, genitals and anus.