UK has found four people with new lethal mpox variant.

According to British health officials, there have been four confirmed cases of a new, highly infectious strain of mpox outside of Africa. This variant, which was first detected in Congo, has caused a cluster of illnesses in the UK, marking the first time it has spread to other regions. However, scientists assure the public that the risk of contracting this new form of mpox is still relatively low.

Last week, authorities reported the first case of this variant in the UK. The infected individual had recently traveled to countries in Africa that were experiencing ongoing mpox outbreaks and is currently being treated at a London hospital. This week, the UK Health Security Agency announced that three more cases have been identified in the same household as the first patient. These individuals are also receiving treatment at a hospital in London.

Susan Hopkins, the chief medical advisor of the UK Health Security Agency, explained that mpox is highly contagious in households with close contact, so it is not surprising to see additional cases within the same household. The new variant of mpox was first detected in eastern Congo earlier this year and is believed to cause milder symptoms that are harder to detect, making it easier to spread as people may not realize they are infected. The spread of this variant in Africa and other parts of the world has led to the World Health Organization declaring a global emergency in August.

In 2022, Britain experienced an outbreak of another type of mpox, resulting in over 3000 cases across more than 100 countries. The new variant has also caused outbreaks in nearby countries such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. It has even been reported in single cases in travelers from Sweden, India, Germany, and Thailand. So far, there have been approximately 43,000 suspected cases of mpox in Africa, resulting in more than 1000 deaths, mostly in Congo.

On Wednesday, the World Health Organization announced that it has allocated almost 900,000 vaccine doses to nine African countries that are currently struggling with mpox epidemics. This effort is crucial in containing the spread of this highly infectious disease and protecting those who are most at risk. As the situation continues to develop, health officials will continue to closely monitor and take necessary measures to prevent the further spread of this new variant of mpox.

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