UK on High Alert: 3 Confirmed Cases of Deadly Monkeypox Virus Spark Fears of Outbreak
A total of 3 cases of infection with the new strain of monkeypox virus have been confirmed in the UK
Xinhua News Agency 2024-11-05 23:15
The British Health and Safety Authority confirmed on the 4th that after the first case of infection with the new strain of monkeypox virus “Clade Ib” was confirmed in the UK last week, two more cases of infection were found among the infected person’s household contacts, which makes the UK infected with this virus. The cumulative number of cases of a new strain has reached 3.
Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser to the UK Health Security Agency, said monkeypox virus is highly contagious among family members who are in close contact, so it is “not unexpected” to find more confirmed cases in the same household. However, the overall risk of monkeypox virus infection to the UK population remains low. HSE is working with other departments to ensure that all contacts of infected cases are identified and contacted to reduce the risk of further transmission.
On October 30, the British Health and Safety Administration announced that the country’s first case of “Branch Ib” strain infection had been discovered in London. The patient has been transferred to the relevant infectious disease department. The British Health and Safety Authority said the patient had recently traveled to some countries in Africa where the strain is circulating, but did not disclose any further information.
The “Clade Ib” strain is a variant of the “Clade I” monkeypox virus strain. It emerged in the Democratic Republic of the Congo last year and spread rapidly. It has spread to some countries where monkeypox cases have never been reported before. Existing evidence shows that compared with the “Clade II” monkeypox virus strain circulating in 2022, infection with the “Clade Ib” strain has more severe symptoms and a higher fatality rate.
In August this year, the WHO declared the monkeypox epidemic a “public health emergency of international concern.” This is the second time since July 2022 that WHO has issued the highest level warning stipulated in the International Health Regulations regarding the monkeypox epidemic.
Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease. The initial symptoms of monkeypox infection in humans include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, etc., which can later develop into a widespread rash on the face and body. Most people who are infected recover within a few weeks, but some become seriously ill or even die.
Editor: Tao Zhe Editor: Mo Haihui