By Aysu Bicer
LONDON (AA) - The UK on Wednesday identified its first case of a more severe mpox variant, known as clade 1b, prompting health officials to heighten precautions.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed that the infected patient had recently returned from Africa and has been transferred to the Royal Free Hospital in North London.
This hospital, which specializes in high-level isolation and has handled cases of Ebola in the past, is now overseeing the patient’s care in containment to prevent any further spread.
Clade 1b mpox is a new variant that health authorities have flagged as particularly concerning due to its potentially increased severity.
Unlike other mpox strains circulating in the UK since 2022, clade 1b is associated with more severe symptoms and higher risks of complications, particularly for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women.
Mpox symptoms typically include a lumpy rash with pus-filled lesions, fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, with added dangers of miscarriage when contracted during pregnancy.
This strain was initially identified last year in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where it has infected over 25,000 people and resulted in more than 1,000 fatalities.
The World Health Organization declared mpox a global health emergency earlier this year, following its spread from the DRC to neighboring African countries and others.
The UKHSA plans to monitor the patient closely to gather more data on the variant, including insights into its severity, transmission dynamics, and possible measures for control.
“Learning more about clade 1b is essential for refining our public health response,” said the UKHSA in a public statement, noting the importance of understanding how this variant may differ from previously circulating strains.