BREAKING NEWSTwo more UK cases of the new deadly strain of mpox are confirmed by health chiefs - with patients receiving specialist hospital care in London
Two more people have caught the new deadly strain of monkeypox in the UK.
Two more people have caught the new deadly strain of monkeypox in the UK.
The latest cases of Clade 1b mpox have been detected in household contacts of the first case, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA).
There are now three confirmed cases in the UK.
The two patients are under specialist care at Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust in London.
But the risk to the UK population remains low, the UKHSA added.
A woman cares her baby suffering from a severe form of mpox in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Vials of single doses of the Jynneos vaccine for mpox are seen from a cooler at a vaccinations site in Brooklyn, New York on August 29, 2022 as the disease swept through the United States
Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at UKHSA, said: Mpox is very infectious in households with close contact and so it is not unexpected to see further cases within the same household.
The overall risk to the UK population remains low. We are working with partners to make sure all contacts of the cases are identified and contacted to reduce the risk of further spread.
The UKHSA said all contacts will be offered testing and vaccination as needed and advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive.
Last week Britains first case of the new deadly strain of monkeypox was detected in London.
The unnamed patient was on holiday in an African country and later developed flu like symptoms on October 21 and a rash three days later.
A global outbreak of mpox, previously known as monkeypox, began in Africa in May 2022.
But the latest Clade 1b strain is considered far deadlier, with Britain joining countries such as Sweden, Thailand, India and Germany in having cases outside of Africa.
