LONDON: The first UK case of a potentially deadly strain of the mpox virus has been detected in London.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the risk to the UK population from the Clade Ib mpox strain “remains low”. The person involved had been on holiday in Africa and travelled back to the UK on an overnight flight on October 21.
They developed flu-like symptoms more than 24 hours later and, on October 24, started to develop a rash which worsened in the following days.
The person attended an emergency department in London on October 27, where they were swabbed, tested and sent home to isolate while waiting for the results. They have now been transferred to the Royal Free Hospital high consequence infectious diseases unit for treatment.
Fewer than 10 people who are thought to have come into contact with the patient are initially being traced, the UKHSA said. These are household contacts, although the UKHSA is “still working” on the number of people it may have to contact trace.