London – In a concerning development, British health authorities have confirmed four cases of a newly identified, highly contagious variant of mpox, first reported in Congo. This marks the first instance of this variant causing a cluster of infections outside of Africa, raising alarms about its potential impact.

Health officials initially reported a single case last week, involving a patient who had traveled to African nations where mpox outbreaks are ongoing. The individual is currently receiving care at a London hospital.

This week, the U.K. Health Security Agency announced that three additional cases were confirmed in individuals living with the initial patient, all of whom are also being treated at the same hospital in London. "Mpox is very infectious in households with close contact, and it is not unexpected to see further cases within the same household," Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor of the U.K. Health Security Agency, stated.

The new variant, which has been detected in eastern Congo earlier this year, is believed to present milder symptoms that might go unnoticed. This characteristic enhances its ability to spread, as individuals may be unaware they are infected. The rapid increase in cases in Congo and surrounding regions led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a global emergency in August.

Britain faced a significant mpox outbreak last year, registering over 3,000 cases of a different variant that impacted more than 100 countries. Countries such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda have reported outbreaks of this new variant, while isolated cases have surfaced in travelers in Sweden, India, Germany, and Thailand.

As for the broader impact of mpox, approximately 43,000 suspected cases have been reported across Africa, with more than 1,000 fatalities, primarily in Congo.

In an effort to combat the spread of mpox, the WHO has allocated nearly 900,000 vaccine doses to nine African nations currently battling mpox epidemics.

Stay informed and protect yourself! The emergence of this new variant serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of public health measures, especially as we turn our focus towards safeguarding against infectious diseases.