A new, deadly strain of mpox that has killed hundreds of people in Africa is ‘very likely’ already in the UK, an infectious diseases expert has warned.
The Clade 1b strain of mpox – previously known as monkeypox – is ‘more severe’ with ‘higher mortality’ than the one that sparked panic in 2022, experts have said.
Not only may the virus transfer from animals to people, but it can also pass from person to person through intimate physical or sexual contact. Large boil-like skin lesions, fever, and soreness in the muscles are some of the symptoms.
The new variation causes skin outbreaks all over the body and was originally discovered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It has already been verified in Sweden and Pakistan. Past iterations resulted in confined lesions at the lips, face, or genitalia.
Following an epidemic in Africa where more than 15,600 suspected cases and 541 deaths have been documented, the World Health Organisation this week issued a global health emergency, its highest alert.
But now, as a deadly strain was confirmed to have reached Europe, Professor Paul Hunter told Sky News it is ‘very likely’ that someone in Britain already has the new disease variant, although it will probably be a few weeks before that is confirmed.
‘When someone gets an infection it typically takes several days before they develop the classic appearance that would make people think “Oh, this is mpox”,’ Prof Hunter, a specialist in Medical Microbiology and the first professor of health protection to be appointed in the UK, told the broadcaster today.
‘Then it can take longer before the samples are taken and sent to the lab, it’s identified as mpox and sent for sequencing so we know which clade of mpox it is.’
Despite mpox being declared an emergency for the second time in years, Prof Hunter warned that the illness is ‘relatively mild’ for most people.
He also said infection risk is ‘very low’ unless people are involved in certain ‘sexual networks’ involving multiple partners.
Infection can spread by reusing towels or through other skin-to-skin contact, but Prof Hunter says that is ‘rare’.
The African Union health office said on Saturday that 18,737 suspected or confirmed cases of mpox had been recorded in Africa since the year’s commencement, including 1,200 instances in a single week.
The figure accounts for three strains of the virus, including the new more deadly and more transmissible Clade 1b.
Have we closed our borders yet? I didn’t think so. Our government never learns. They should be cancelling all flights to and from these countries, and they should have done this as soon as they heard about the virus, but instead, they’re bringing all these awful diseases to our island.
Formerly known as monkeypox, mpox is an uncommon illness that is mostly seen in West or Central Africa. Although there has been a recent rise in instances, there is little chance of contracting it.
Close physical contact between individuals might spread the mpox virus. When engaging in sexual activity, kissing, embracing, or holding hands, as well as when coming into contact with mpox-affected clothing, bedding, or towels.
In parts of west and central Africa, mpox can also be caught from infected rodents, such as rats, mice and squirrels if you’re bitten, you touch fur, skin, blood, body fluid, spots, blisters or scabs, or if you eat their meat and it’s not been cooked thoroughly.
Although there has been a recent increase in the frequency of mpox diagnoses in the UK, the risk is still minimal and very few individuals have ever had the disease.
If you have not recently gone to West or Central Africa, or if you have not had close contact—that is, sharing towels, clothes, or bedding—with someone who has the mpox or is exhibiting symptoms, you are very unlikely to get the disease.
Anyone can get mpox, but currently, most cases have been in men in the gay community, so it’s particularly important to be aware of the symptoms.
The earliest signs of mpox infection often take five to twenty-one days to manifest.
The first symptoms of mpox include:
- a high temperature
- a headache
- muscle aches
- backache
- swollen glands
- shivering (chills)
- exhaustion
- joint pain
Usually, a rash develops one to five days following the onset of symptoms. Usually, the rash starts on the face before spreading to other body areas. This can apply to the anus, genitalia, and mouth.
You may also have anal pain or bleeding from your bottom.
The rash is sometimes confused with chickenpox. It starts as raised spots, which turn into small blisters filled with fluid. These blisters eventually form scabs which later fall off.
The symptoms usually clear up in a few weeks. While you have symptoms, you can pass mpox on to other people.
The majority of individuals with moderate mpox recover in a few weeks without any medication; but, if your symptoms worsen and you start to feel sick, you might need to go to the hospital for treatment.
It’s not a deadly virus, but it passes onto people very easily, so people should be vigilant and make sure that they wash their hands regularly, and don’t touch what they should not. Perhaps refrain from touching, kissing and cuddling people for a while, and what you touch on the outside of your home, otherwise we might have a bit of a pandemic on our hands!
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 