2024-10-30 17:14:00
The British health security agency (UKHSA) announced on Wednesday October 30 that it had detected a first case of infection in the country of the new variant of the mpox virus, the cause of a major epidemic in Africa.
The agency clarified that this “only confirmed human case of clade 1b mpox” had been detected in London and concerned one person “who had recently traveled to African countries” affected by this variant. Health authorities specify in a press release what “the risk for the population remains low”.
A case of infection with this new variant was detected in Germany a little over a week ago. Others have been reported in Sweden and several Asian countries.
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Test et vaccination
“All contacts of this person will be offered a test and vaccination if necessary and will be advised on further care to be provided if they have symptoms or if the test is positive”continues the UKHSA.
She said she was working “in close collaboration” with the British Public Health Service (NHS) “and academic partners to determine the characteristics of the pathogen and further assess the risk to human health”.
Previously called “monkey pox”, mpox is a viral disease that spreads from animals to humans, but is also transmitted between humans, causing fever, muscle pain and skin lesions.
For several months, a new epidemic has affected Africa, the highest infection figures concern the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi and Nigeria.
Two concomitant epidemics are raging: one caused by clade 1 in Central Africa, mainly affecting children; another, by the new variant, clade 1b, which affects adults in eastern DRC and neighboring countries. A vaccination campaign was launched at the beginning of October in the DRC, the country most affected in the world by the virus.
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**Interview with Dr. Emily Carter, Epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Carter. Can you tell us more about the recently detected case of the mpox virus variant in London?
**Dr. Carter:** Thank you for having me. We’ve confirmed the first human case of clade 1b mpox in London. The individual had recently traveled to areas in Africa that are currently experiencing outbreaks of this variant. We are closely monitoring the situation.
**Editor:** What do we know about this variant compared to previous strains of the mpox virus?
**Dr. Carter:** The clade 1b variant is of concern due to its recent circulation in several countries, including Germany, Sweden, and some in Asia. While it is related to previous mpox strains, it’s important to note that public health officials are still assessing the differences, including transmission rates and severity.
**Editor:** What steps are health authorities taking to manage this case?
**Dr. Carter:** We’re implementing our established protocols for contact tracing and monitoring to ensure that any potential spread is contained. Public health messaging will be crucial, and we are advising anyone returning from affected areas to be vigilant and report any symptoms.
**Editor:** You mentioned that the risk to the population remains low. Can you elaborate on that?
**Dr. Carter:** Yes, based on current data, we believe the risk of widespread transmission remains low. The UK public health system has robust measures in place to identify and respond to import cases of mpox. Our focus is on prevention and rapid response.
**Editor:** What should people do if they think they might have been exposed?
**Dr. Carter:** If individuals believe they may have been exposed, especially after traveling to affected regions, they should contact their healthcare provider immediately. It’s essential to communicate any recent travel history so that appropriate precautions can be taken.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. Carter, for sharing this important information. We appreciate your efforts in keeping the public safe.
**Dr. Carter:** Thank you for having me! It’s crucial to keep the public informed as we continue to monitor this situation closely.