UK all set to face possible threat of Mpox virus

London:  The Health officials in the UK are gearing up to address any possible cases of a new mpox strain following the World Health Organization's (WHO) declaration of outbreaks in Africa as a global emergency.

The new strain, labeled clade 1b, was first identified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2023. Although there are no current cases in the UK, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is taking steps to be prepared.

Dr. Meera Chand, a deputy director at the UKHSA, stated that while the risk to the UK population remains low, preparations are being made to manage any cases that may arise. "We are ensuring that clinicians are equipped to identify cases quickly, that rapid testing is available, and that protocols are in place to safely care for infected individuals while preventing further transmission," Dr. Chand explained.

Mpox, previously referred to as monkeypox, spreads through close physical contact and presents with flu-like symptoms and skin lesions filled with pus. While generally mild, the disease can be deadly, especially for children, pregnant women, and individuals with compromised immune systems.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared this new outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under the 2005 international health regulations earlier this week. This follows a similar declaration made in July 2022, which was lifted in May 2023 due to a significant global drop in cases.

The clade 1b strain has caused over 100 lab-confirmed cases in several African nations, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, all of which had not previously reported cases of mpox.

Before 2022, mpox cases in the UK were typically linked to travel from endemic regions in West and Central Africa. However, in May of that year, the UK faced its first major outbreak, primarily affecting men who have sex with men. This prompted a national vaccination campaign that concluded in July 2023.

UKHSA data shows that by the end of 2022, there were 3,732 confirmed and highly probable mpox cases reported across the UK. Between January and July 2023, 286 new cases were identified, 269 of which were in England. Of these, 116 individuals are believed to have contracted the virus within the UK, while 82 cases involved travel abroad.