UK health officials are urging gay, bisexual men and other men who have sex with men to make sure they are vaccinated against smallpox as a strain called clade Ib shows early signs of local spread in some European countries.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says it is aware of a small number of cases of this strain of smallpox, formerly known as monkeypox, in Spain, Italy, Portugal and the Netherlands, as well as in the United States.
According to the UKHSA, Mpox is usually mild but can be severe, and vaccination is the best protection.
Charities have also urged people to get vaccinated before traveling to Winter Pride events in Europe this autumn.
“As we see MPOK continuing to spread around the world, it is a reminder that you should come forward for the vaccine if you are eligible,” said Dr Katie Sinka, head of sexually transmitted infections at UKHSA.
New UKHSA report on mpox says there is now a high risk of clade I being introduced into the UK during travel. But it said further spread is “likely to be controlled to some extent” by the existing vaccination program for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM).
The vaccine is recommended if you are at increased risk of contracting mpox.
These are mainly men who have sex with men and those who:
- have multiple sexual partners
- have group sex
- visit sex spots on the territory
The Mpox vaccine is also recommended for people who work in on-site sex work, such as cleaners and anyone who has had or will have close contact with someone who has Mpox, the NHS website says.
Although the vaccine has not been tested against mpox clade Ib, it is known to be effective in protecting against another strain called clade II.
As a result, health officials say protection from the vaccines is expected.
Vaccination is now available from sexual health services. National Health Service Council Before you get started, you should call your sexual health clinic about the MPOX vaccine.
Common symptoms of mpox include skin rashes or pus-filled lesions that can last two to four weeks.
Mpox can also cause fever, headaches, muscle pain, back pain, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.
It is a virus that is spread from person to person through close physical contact, coughing or sneezing, or touching contaminated clothing, bedding, or towels.
In 2022, there was a global outbreak of mpox clade II that affected many countries around the world, especially gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM).
To date, 16 cases of mpox clade Ib have been reported in the UK, all in England. But there is no evidence of spread within the GBMSM community. All cases were directly or indirectly associated with travel to countries where this strain is circulating.
Spain reported its first local cases earlier this month, and four more cases were reported to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) among men in Italy, Portugal and the Netherlands. All five had mild symptoms.
The ECDC states that these cases had no travel history, suggesting “a different pattern of transmission” and indicating that “transmission may occur through sexual contact among men who have sex with men in several EU/EEA countries.”
Previously reported cases of mpox clade I in Europe (about 30) were imported or had clear links to these imported cases.
Richard Angell OBE, chief executive of the Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “With the Winter Pride season around Europe soon upon us, those traveling to these events would be wise to get vaccinated at least once, if not twice.”
Most people will be offered two doses, usually at least 28 days apart.
