NHS lists eight mpox signs to look out for as lethal pressure spreads to UK

A holidaymaker who returned to the UK from Africa is the first reported case of the more serious Clade 1 strain of mpox.

Earlier this week, health chiefs confirmed that the traveller came back on October 21 following an overnight flight. They then began exhibiting flu-like symptoms over 24 hours later.

The situation escalated when a rash developed three days after which then deteriorated until the patient headed to an emergency department in London on October 27.

Subsequently, the patient was tested for Clade 1 mpox, sent home to await results, and finally admitted to the high consequence infectious diseases unit at the Royal Free Hospital.

While there have been previous incidents of mpox in the UK, marked as the less severe Clade 2 strain, this marks the first instance of its nasty sister strain, Clade 1, hitting British shores.

Authorities are currently contact-tracing around 10 “household contacts” the individuals may have had contact with. The authority has said the risk of catching Clade Ib in the UK “remains low.”

Mpox in the UK

According to the NHS website there have been a small number of cases of mpox in the UK since 2022. These have all been a type of mpox that may be milder (called Clade 2 mpox) until now.

So far this type of mpox has mainly been found in countries across central and east Africa.

How you get mpox

Mpox can be passed on from person to person through:

• any close physical contact with mpox blisters or scabs (including during sexual contact, kissing, cuddling or holding hands)
• touching clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with mpox
• the coughs or sneezes of a person with mpox when they’re close to you

In parts of central and east Africa, mpox can also be caught from infected rodents (such as rats, mice and squirrels) if:

• you’re bitten
• you touch their fur, skin, blood, body fluids, spots, blisters or scabs
• you eat their meat and it has not been cooked thoroughly

Symptoms of mpox

If you get infected with mpox, it usually takes between 5 and 21 days for the first symptoms to appear.

The first symptoms of mpox include:

• a high temperature (fever)
• a headache
• muscle aches
• backache
• swollen glands
• shivering (chills)
• exhaustion
• joint pain

A rash usually appears 1 to 5 days after the first symptoms. It can be on any part of the body, including the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, mouth, genitals and anus.

You may also have anal pain or bleeding from your bottom.

The rash is sometimes confused with chickenpox. It starts as raised spots, which turn into sores (ulcers) or small blisters filled with fluid. The blisters eventually form scabs which later fall off.

The symptoms usually clear up in a few weeks. While you have symptoms, you can pass mpox on to other people.

Call 111 if

• you have a rash with blisters or sores (ulcers) and you’ve been to central or east Africa in the past 3 weeks
• you have a rash with blisters or sores (ulcers) and you’ve been in close contact (including sexual contact) with someone who has symptoms of mpox and they’ve been to central or east Africa in the past 3 weeks
• you have any other symptoms of mpox and you’ve been to central or east Africa in the past 3 weeks and had close contact with someone who had symptoms of mpox

Stay at home and avoid close contact with other people, including sharing towels or bedding, until you’ve been told what to do.

Tell the person you speak to about your recent travel history.

Call a sexual health clinic if

You have a rash with blisters or sores (ulcers) and have either:

• had 1 or more new sexual partners in the past 3 weeks
• had sex or sexual contact with someone who has symptoms of mpox but has not been to central or east Africa in the past 3 weeks

Stay at home and avoid close contact with other people, including sharing towels or bedding, until you’ve been told what to do.

Call the clinic before visiting. Tell the person you speak to if you’ve had close contact with someone who has or might have mpox.

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