The first case of a new infectious and potentially fatal strain of mpox has been reported in the UK.

The strain, known as Clade Ib, emerged in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in August this year.

The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA), the government agency tasked with protecting public health, said the case was detected in London but the risk to the UK population is currently low.

– How did the infection occur?

The case was identified in London and the patient was transferred to the Royal Free Hospital’s high-consequence infectious diseases unit.

UKHSA said they had recently traveled to countries in Africa where cases of Clade Ib mpox had been reported in the community.

– What is Clade Ib and is it dangerous?

The UKHSA said available evidence showed Clade Ib caused more severe disease than Clade II, another type of mpox.

The agency said it will continue to monitor and learn more about the severity of the disease, transmission and control measures.

It comes nearly three months after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreaks in Africa a global emergency.

– What do UK officials say?

The UKHSA said it was working closely with the NHS and academic partners to identify the characteristics of the virus and further assess the risk to human health.

Clade Ib will be managed as a high-consequence infectious disease (HCID) and scientists will learn more about the virus.

– How is the UK dealing with the new infectious strain of mpox?

The UKHSA said the country has an existing stock of mpox vaccines and last month announced the supply of more vaccines to support a routine vaccination program to provide additional resistance.

He also noted that comprehensive planning is underway to ensure that healthcare workers have the necessary equipment and preparations to respond to confirmed cases.

– What is MPOX?

Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is a viral infection that spreads from person to person through close contact and was first identified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970.

Like many diseases caused by a virus, mpox has different types or “clades.”

There are two main types of mpox known as Clade I and Clade II.

Clade II mpox has been available in the UK since 2022.

Clade Ib mpox has been circulating widely in the Democratic Republic of Congo in recent months, and cases have been reported in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Sweden, India and Germany.

– What are the symptoms of Mpox and how does it spread?

Mpox is transmitted through close physical contact, including sexual contact, kissing, hugging, or holding hands.

Symptoms include high fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen glands, fatigue, joint pain, and a skin rash or pus-filled lesions that can last two to four weeks.