Ministers have met to discuss the UK’s preparedness to respond to mpox – after the declaration of a global health emergency.
There have been more than 17,000 mpox cases and 571 deaths in Africa this year following the emergence of a new clade 1b variant, first spotted in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It has been detected in neighbouring African countries, and as far afield as Sweden and Pakistan – but no cases have yet been found in the UK.
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced last Wednesday that an outbreak of the strain was now a “public health emergency of international concern”.
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Pat McFadden, the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, met with ministers from the Department for Health, Foreign Office and the UK’s chief medical officer Mr Whitty on Monday.
They met to “ensure sufficient plans are in place to deal with any potential cases” Downing Street said.
While the strain has not been detected in the UK so far, Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert, told Sky News it was “very likely” someone in the UK already had it.
He said it would likely take a few weeks before this could be confirmed, when people develop symptoms and visit a doctor.
The disease causes blisters on the face and elsewhere, and mainly spreads when fluids from these lesions are passed on during sexual contact.
But it can also be spread through other types of skin-to-skin contact, as well as an infected person coughing or sneezing while close to you, and can even be spread by touching clothing, bedding, or towels used by someone with mpox.
Vaccinations for mpox – previously known as monkeypox – are currently available in the UK in London and Manchester, with two groups eligible for the jab according to the NHS.
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The first is men who are gay, bisexual, or have sex with other men, and who have multiple partners, participate in group sex, or attend sex-on-premises venues.
The second is staff who work at sex-on-premises venues.
As of September last year, around 120,000 doses have been administered; 78,000 first jabs, and 42,000 second.
The list of who should be eligible is under constant review by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
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An initial outbreak of a previous variant was recorded in the UK in 2022, after which a smallpox vaccine – which has efficacy against mpox – was authorised for use in the UK.
This is still the vaccine being used in the UK.
The European Union’s Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has updated its advice to recommend those travelling to 16 African countries where the new variant is prevalent to get vaccinated before they go.
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As well as causing pus-filled lesions, the symptoms of mpox include a high temperature, headache, muscle aches, backache, and a rash.
According to the UK government, most of those infected with the disease recover in a matter of weeks without treatment – although serious cases can require antivirals.