The first case of a new mpox strain has been detected in the United Kingdom, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.
"The UKHSA has detected a single confirmed human case of Clade Ib mpox … This is the first detection of this Clade of mpox in the UK. It is different from mpox Clade II that has been circulating at low levels in the UK since 2022," the agency said in a statement on Wednesday.
The case was detected in London in an individual who recently visited African countries, the statement read, adding that the risk to the UK population "remains low."
Mpox is an infectious disease that can spread between people. It is usually a mild disease that most people recover from within a few weeks, but some may develop complications. The initial symptoms of mpox include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, enlarged lymph nodes, chills, and exhaustion. A rash may develop, often starting on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body.