Latest news with #KathrynBasford
The Independent
08-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
What we know about new Mpox strain after first case caught in UK
Another case of the potentially serious mpox virus has been found in the north east of England, in what could be the first case of community transmission in the UK. Britain's health security agency (UKHSA) said on Tuesday it has discovered the first confirmed human case of Clade Ib mpox in the country where the infected person has no reported travel history. This suggests the person contracted the highly infectious virus from someone else in the UK. What is special about this latest mpox case? All previous cases in the UK have been found in people who have either travelled to an affected country or have a link to someone who has. The UKHSA said more work is ongoing to determine where the individual may have caught the infection - which was discovered last month. They said all contacts have been followed up and no further cases were identified. The government agency was keen to stress that the risk to the UK population remains low. What is mpox? 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. 'Mpox is a disease caused by a virus known as monkeypox, which was first seen in the late 1950's in laboratory monkeys with a human case noted in 1970,' explains Dr Jon Roberts, professor of Health Protection at the University of the West of England. 'The virus is 'zoonotic' – meaning it can affect different animals, including humans, although cases in humans have been rare.' Mpox spreads through close physical contact with an infected person. 'It spreads through skin-to-skin contact with rashes or blisters, touching their clothing, bedding or towels, or when they cough or sneeze near you,' explains Dr Kathryn Basford at ASDA Online Doctor. 'It can also be transmitted by infected animals through bites but this is less common in the UK.' The virus commonly has two types or 'clades' which present with differing clinical severity if seen in humans. 'Clade I can be associated with more severe disease and in the UK is currently designated a high consequence infectious disease (HCID),' highlights Roberts. 'Clade II is no longer designated a HCID and was associated with a global outbreak of infection in 2022-2023, including cases in the UK.' The disease stopped being classified as a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) last month, after a review of criteria including mortality rate and available interventions. Further information about symptoms is available on the NHS website. What are scientists saying about the latest development? 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.' The history of mpox Mpox was first discovered in 1958 when outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in monkeys kept for research. The first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and since then the infection has been reported in a number of African countries. Prior to 2022 most cases were reported from the DRC and Nigeria. In October, England confirmed its first case of clade Ib mpox, a different strain from the one circulating at low levels in the UK since 2022. A month before this, the government announced the purchase of additional mpox vaccine doses to strengthen the country's defences against the virus.
The Independent
31-01-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Another case of deadly mpox strain detected in UK
Another case of a deadly mpox variant has been reported in England. Britain's health security agency (UKHSA) said on Friday another case of the clade lb has been detected, the eight case confirmed in the country since October last year. The government agency said the risk to the population remained low. The clade lb variant is a new form of the virus that is linked to a global health emergency declared by the World Health Organization in August. The UKHSA said the new case - detected in London in a patient who had recently returned from Uganda which is seeing community transmission of the variant - had no links to the previous cases identified in England. 'In the context of the outbreak in parts of Africa, we expect to see the occasional imported case of clade Ib mpox in the UK,' the UKHSA added. What you need to know about mpox strain Clade 1b Clade Ib mpox has been circulating in several countries in Africa in recent months. Imported cases have been detected in a number of countries including Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden and the United States. What are Mpox symptoms? 'If you get infected with mpox, it usually takes between five and 21 days for the first symptoms to appear,' says Dr Kathryn Basford at ASDA Online Doctor. 'Symptoms to look out for include a fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and fatigue, followed by a rash that typically starts on the face and spreads to other parts of the body. 'The rash progresses from flat lesions to raised bumps, then fluid-filled blisters, and finally, scabs that eventually fall off. 'The illness usually lasts two to four weeks and is generally mild, but in some cases, it can be severe.' People often mistake the rashes for chicken pox. 'It is very important to note these symptoms can also be associated with more common infections such as chickenpox so it is important to discuss with a healthcare professional and if required, be tested,' adds Roberts. Who is most at risk? 'Those most at risk are in close contact with someone with mpox, including household members, sexual partners, as well as healthcare workers, men who have sex with men, people with weakened immune systems, and individuals in regions where mpox is spreading,' says Basford. 'People who have recently travelled to, or who have been in close contact with someone who has recently travelled to, areas of central or east Africa where there are outbreaks of mpox, are at higher risk of catching mpox.'
