Fifth case of mpox Clade 1b detected in Leeds, UKHSA confirms

A fifth case of a new strain of mpox has been detected in the UK.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the latest case of Clade 1b mpox was detected in Leeds.

The individual – who is now under specialist care at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – had recently returned from Uganda, which is seeing community transmission of the new strain.

Professor Susan Hopkins, the UKHSA’s chief medical adviser, said: “The risk to the UK population remains low following this fifth case, and we are working rapidly to trace close contacts and reduce the risk of any potential spread.”

In a statement, the UKHSA said the case has no relation to the previous cases identified in London over the last month.

All four of the cases were from the same household, and all have since fully recovered.

What are the symptoms of mpox and how is it passed on?

Mpox, including the Clade 1b strain, is usually passed on by close physical contact, contact with infected animals or sexual transmission.

Common symptoms of mpox include a skin rash or pus-filled lesions, which can last between two to four weeks.

It can also cause fever, headaches, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.

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How is new strain of mpox different to before?

The Clade 1b strain of mpox was discovered by scientists earlier this year, who traced it to a Congolese mining town.

Scientists from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared a public health emergency over the new strain in August.

Since then, cases have also been detected in the US, Germany, Sweden, Thailand and India.