UK detects two more cases of new mpox variant

LONDON, United Kingdom - Britain has detected two more cases of the new mpox variant clade Ib in household contacts of the first case, the country's health security agency (UKHSA) said on Monday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to three.

The government agency added the risk to the population remained low. The clade Ib variant is a new form of the virus that is linked to a global health emergency declared by the World Health Organization in August.

"Mpox is very infectious in households with close contact and so it is not unexpected to see further cases within the same household," UKHSA said.

UKHSA said last week that the first case, in a patient who had recently travelled to affected countries in Africa, was detected in London and the individual has been transferred to a specialist hospital. — Reuters