Sweden’s public health agency announced on Thursday that a person has been diagnosed with the Clade 1 variant of mpox.
This is the first case of this variant to be diagnosed outside the African continent, although it was contracted during a stay in Africa, according to the Swedish authorities.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak of the Clade 1 strain a public health emergency of “international concern” on 14 August.
So, what is the infection, what are the symptoms and is there a vaccine?
Let’s take a look.
What is mpox?
Mpox – previously known as monkeypox – is a rare infection that is most commonly found in west or central Africa.
Anyone can get mpox and it can be passed on from person to person through close physical contact with blisters or scabs, touching the clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with mpox, and the coughs or sneezes of a person with the infection when they’re close to you.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is in the middle of an outbreak of Clade 1, with confirmed cases reaching countries across Africa. In the DRC, there’s been more than 15,600 cases of mpox so far this year, and 537 deaths.
Are there any UK cases of Clade 1 mpox?
So far in the UK, there have been no recorded cases of the Clade 1 variant during the current outbreak.
Dr Meera Chand, deputy director at the UK’s health security agency, said: “The risk to the UK population is currently considered low. However, planning is underway to prepare for any cases that we might see in the UK.”
What are the symptoms of mpox?
It usually takes between five and 21 days for the first symptoms of mpox to appear. Although they usually clear up in a few weeks, symptoms can still be passed onto other people while you have them.
The first symptoms include a high temperature, a headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen glands, shivering, exhaustion and joint pain.
A rash then usually appears one to five days after the first symptoms, often beginning on the face, then spreading to other parts of the body including the mouth, genitals and anus. You may also have pain or bleeding from your bottom.
The rash starts as raised spots, which turn into small blisters filled with fluid that eventually form scabs and later fall off.
Mpox is usually mild and most people recover within a few weeks without treatment, but the NHS says that if your symptoms are more severe and you become unwell, you may need to receive treatment in hospital.
Is there a vaccine for mpox?
Martin Michaelis, professor of molecular medicine at the University of Kent, told FactCheck that “we have effective vaccines,” but “we just need to produce them and use them where they are needed”.
As mpox is caused by a similar virus to smallpox, the NHS offers the smallpox (MVA) vaccine to people who are most likely to be exposed to mpox.
This includes:
- – healthcare workers caring for patients with confirmed or suspected mpox
– men who are gay, bisexual or have sex with other men, and who have multiple partners
– people who’ve been in close contact with someone who has mpox – this can be given up to 14 days after
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has said that travellers should consider getting vaccinated against mpox if they will be visiting affected areas in Africa.
(Image credit: Xinhua/Shutterstock)
