The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised the alarm by declaring Mpox a global emergency, and our map pinpoints areas in England with suspected diagnoses.
The concerning spike in Mpox incidents in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other African countries has been labelled as a “public health emergency of international concern” by the WHO putting it on par with previous emergencies like Covid-19, Ebola, and the 2022 Mpox outbreak in Europe.
South London is revealed to be a hotspot for potential Mpox cases in the UK, with Lambeth detecting 10 possible infections and Southwark eight, while figures indicate sightings throughout Manchester, Suffolk, and Yorkshire.
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According to the latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), England saw a total of 269 Mpox cases in the span of 2023 and 2024.
A breakdown of these figures shows 116 cases are believed to have originated within the UK, 82 contracted abroad, and 71 are pending investigation. It’s noteworthy that none of the UK situations involve the clade I variant of Mpox currently triggering global worry in Africa, reports the Mirror.
Professor Paul Hunter from the University of East Anglia has issued a stark warning to the Mirror, suggesting that a new strain “may well be here” in the UK due to delays in testing and diagnosis. Dr Hunter speculated: “If I was to bet, I’d bet on it already being in the country, because by the time you get infected and diagnosed to understand what Clade it is, you’re looking at around two weeks.”
(Image: Getty Images)
In the past year up to the end of June, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has been notified of 90 suspected cases of mpox through statutory notifications of infectious diseases (NOIDs). These NOIDs are crucial alerts that GPs must send to the UKHSA whenever they suspect a case of certain infectious diseases, including mpox, serving as an early indicator of potential outbreaks across various regions.
Dr Meera Chand, the Deputy Director at UKHSA, has indicated a low level of concern for the UK public with regards to an emergent health threat. She elaborated on preparations, stating: “The risk to the UK population is currently considered low. However, planning is underway to prepare for any cases that we might see in the UK.”
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