Latest news with #GillianArmstrong
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
UKHSA update on 'severe' mpox after new case detected in UK
A new case of mpox has been detected in the UK, health chiefs have confirmed. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said a single confirmed human case of Clade Ib mpox has been detected in the north east of England. The person had not travelled to affected countries and has no known links to previously confirmed UK cases. Now, the UKHSA is working to determine how the patient caught the infection. The UKHSA said: "The individual was diagnosed in March, all contacts have been followed up and no further cases identified. "UKHSA has robust mechanisms in place to investigate suspected cases of mpox of all clade types, irrespective of travel history. READ MORE: UK tourists warned of £1,600 fine over Spain beach rule Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the BirminghamLive newsletter here. "All previous cases in the UK to date have either travelled to an affected country or have a link to someone that has." Mpox - previously known as monkeypox - can be passed on from person to person through close physical contact with someone with the infection. In parts of central and east Africa, it can be caught from infected rodents such as rats, mice and squirrels, the NHS says. The UKHSA said mpox can be 'severe' for some but stressed that 'risk to the UK population remains low'. Clade Ia and Ib mpox are no longer classified as a high consequence infectious disease, it said. Dr Gillian Armstrong, UKHSA Mpox incident director, said: "The risk to the UK population from mpox remains low. "The majority of people who have presented with symptoms report close physical contact, including massages or sex, prior to developing symptoms. "Regardless of whether you have travelled or not, it is important to remain alert to the risks. "Anyone who thinks they may have mpox should contact NHS 111 for advice on what to do. "While mpox infection is mild for many, it can be severe for some and UKHSA is committed to preventing its spread within the UK." Symptoms of mpox include a skin rash or pus-filled lesions which can last between two to four weeks. It can also cause fever, headaches, muscle aches, back pain, swollen glands, chills, exhaustion and joint pain, according to the NHS.
BBC News
07-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
North East mpox case confirmed with no travel links
A case of Clade Ib mpox virus has been confirmed in the North East of England, but no links have been found to other known infected UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said a person was diagnosed with the virus in March and it was working to determine how they were added the case had "no reported travel history" and no reported link with previously confirmed cases in the Gillian Armstrong, the UKSHA's mpox incident director, said the risk to the population remained low but warned the infection could be severe on some patients. The disease stopped being classified as a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) last month, after a review of criteria including mortality rate and available symptoms include a skin rash or pus-filled lesions. It can also cause fever, headaches, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph Armstrong said the majority of previously infected people had reported close physical contact with someone, such as massages or sex, before developing symptoms."Regardless of whether you have travelled or not, it is important to remain alert to the risks," she who thinks they may have mpox should contact the NHS on 111. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Fears new mpox strain spreading in UK after case with no travel history
The new, more dangerous mpox strain has been detected in England in a person with no travel history or links to other cases, raising fears the virus could be spreading undetected. All nine previous UK cases of the new variant, known as clade 1b, had been in people who had either returned recently from Africa, or been in close contact with someone who had. But the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on Monday said it had launched an investigation to understand how an individual living in the North East of England had caught the virus. The agency said the person, who has not been identified, was diagnosed with clade 1b mpox in March. No other cases have yet been identified. Clade 1b emerged from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in November 2023, and differs from the variants that have been circulating in the UK since 2022. It is thought to cause more severe disease, with symptoms including a lumpy rash of pus-filled lesions, fever, aches and, in some cases, death. It has also been linked to dangerous complications for pregnant women including miscarriage. Mpox is spread through close contact, primarily through sex. But it can also can be transmitted by talking or breathing close to another person. 'While mpox infection is mild for many, it can be severe for some and UKHSA is committed to preventing its spread within the UK,' said Dr Gillian Armstrong, the UKHSA's Mpox Incident Director. 'Regardless of whether you have travelled or not, it is important to remain alert to the risks,' Dr Armstrong added. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency earlier this year due to clade 1b's rapid spread to neighbouring countries in Africa. The new variant has since been detected in Sweden, Germany, India, and Thailand – all in patients who had travelled to affected areas. Cases in the DRC are continuing to rise despite the recent rollout of vaccines, owing to conflict in the Eastern part of the country between the army and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels, which is severely hampering the country's outbreak response. More than 25,000 people have been infected and 1,000 have died in the DRC since clade 1b first emerged a year and a half ago. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
07-04-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Fears new mpox strain spreading undetected in UK after case in person with no travel history
The new, more dangerous mpox strain has been detected in England in a person with no travel history or links to other cases, raising fears the virus could be spreading undetected. All nine previous UK cases of the new variant, known as clade 1b, had been in people who had either returned recently from Africa, or been in close contact with someone who had. But the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on Monday said it had launched an investigation to understand how an individual living in the North East of England had caught the virus. The agency said the person, who has not been identified, was diagnosed with clade 1b mpox in March. No other cases have yet been identified. Clade 1b emerged from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in November 2023, and differs from the variants that have been circulating in the UK since 2022. It is thought to cause more severe disease, with symptoms including a lumpy rash of pus-filled lesions, fever, aches and, in some cases, death. It has also been linked to dangerous complications for pregnant women including miscarriage. Mpox is spread through close contact, primarily through sex. But it can also can be transmitted by talking or breathing close to another person. 'While mpox infection is mild for many, it can be severe for some and UKHSA is committed to preventing its spread within the UK,' said Dr Gillian Armstrong, the UKHSA's Mpox Incident Director. 'Regardless of whether you have travelled or not, it is important to remain alert to the risks,' Dr Armstrong added. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency earlier this year due to clade 1b's rapid spread to neighbouring countries in Africa. The new variant has since been detected in Sweden, Germany, India, and Thailand – all in patients who had travelled to affected areas. Cases in the DRC are continuing to rise despite the recent rollout of vaccines, owing to conflict in the Eastern part of the country between the army and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels, which is severely hampering the country's outbreak response. More than 25,000 people have been infected and 1,000 have died in the DRC since clade 1b first emerged a year and a half ago.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
UKHSA investigation after patient found to have Clade Ib mpox with no links to confirmed cases
An investigation is under way after health chiefs found a new case of mpox in a UK patient. The individual found with the disease has with no known links to other confirmed cases. The UKHSA also says the person has not travelled to affected countries. Now it is trying to establish where the virus has been contracted. It said on Monday it has "detected a single confirmed human case of Clade Ib mpox where the case had no reported travel history and no reported link with previously confirmed cases in the UK." READ MORE: Fruit juice costing 10p could slash cholesterol and blood pressure READ MORE: Major change announced about missed NHS appointments It added: "More work is ongoing to determine where the individual, who is resident in the North East of England, may have caught the infection. The individual was diagnosed in March, all contacts have been followed up and no further cases identified. "The risk to the UK population remains low. Clade Ia and Ib mpox are no longer classified as a high consequence infectious disease (HCID). UKHSA has robust mechanisms in place to investigate suspected cases of mpox of all clade types, irrespective of travel history. "All previous cases in the UK to date have either travelled to an affected country or have a link to someone that has." The Agency set out signs of mpox to watch for. It said: "Common symptoms of mpox include a skin rash or pus-filled lesions which can last 2 to 4 weeks. It can also cause fever, headaches, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes." Further information about symptoms is available on the NHS website. UKHSA Mpox Incident Director Dr Gillian Armstrong said: "The risk to the UK population from mpox remains low. The majority of people who have presented with symptoms report close physical contact, including massages, or sex prior to developing symptoms. "Regardless of whether you have travelled or not, it is important to remain alert to the risks. Anyone who thinks they may have mpox should contact NHS 111 for advice on what to do. "While mpox infection is mild for many, it can be severe for some and UKHSA is committed to preventing its spread within the UK."
