Joint statement from the British HIV Association (BHIVA) and the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) regarding the emergence of new mpox variant
15 August 2024
(Last updated: 24 Aug 2024 10:06)
23 August 2024: The situation with the Clade Ib outbreak of MPOX in the DRC remains under review and the UKHSA is providing regular updates. There have been no cases of Clade I (I or Ib) in the UK to date.
BASHH and BHIVA continue to work closely on preparedness should a case be detected in the UK, taking into consideration emerging evidence. BASHH will now be providing weekly updates at a 5-6 virtual session on Wednesdays (Bitesize) in which BHIVA will participate and which are open to all BASHH and BHIVA members.
Current policy and access to Mpox vaccination in specific centres in the UK for groups at risk of Clade II are unchanged. We are supporting ongoing discussions around the roll-out of the standard vaccination programme related to Clade II (in the UK since 2022), as recommended by the JCVI for at risk groups.
19 August, 2024: On 14 August 2024 the WHO joined CDC Africa in declaring a public health emergency with reference to the emergence of a new variant of mpox Clade I, identified as Clade Ib. The new variant is potentially more severe than the Clade II strain of mpox which has been present in the UK, Europe and the US since 2022.
The UKHSA guidance issued on 15 August has been circulated through sexual health and other public health channels, see link to briefing note here: UKHSA Briefing Note
Like the Clade II variant, the new Clade Ib strain is transmitted both sexually and through close person to person contact, whereas the original Clade I strain was transmitted mainly through contact with infected animals.
The incidence of the new Clade Ib variant has been reported where it has been centred, which is mainly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and countries bordering it. In the past month, over 100 laboratory-confirmed cases of Clade Ib have been reported in four countries neighbouring the DRC that have not reported mpox before: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. WHO is working to respond rapidly to increase vaccine access and scale up treatment programmes for affected countries through the release of emergency funding.
Latest information on case definitions, diagnosis, testing, vaccination and principles of infection control can be found here: Operational mpox (monkeypox) HCID case definition - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Anyone presenting with symptoms of mpox, especially with a link to travel to affected countries, will be tested irrespective of sexual history. We recognise that there are communities we serve, particularly those disproportionately affected by Clade II mpox in the UK, who may be particularly concerned. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with our partners to communicate and respond to any developments.
For further information, please contact BASHH at admin@bashh.org.