Mpox symptoms: What to watch out for as first case of deadly Clade 1 strain found in UK

The first Clade 1 case started to develop flu-like symptoms more than 24 hours after they returned to the UK on an overnight flight from Africa on October 21, and went to A&E six days later

The UK’s first case of the more serious Clade 1 strain of Mpox was reported today after a holidaymaker visited hospital with symptoms following a trip to Africa.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said they started to develop flu-like symptoms more than 24 hours after they returned to the UK on an overnight flight on October 21.

Three days later the person started to develop a rash which got worse over the following days until the individual went to an emergency department in London on October 27.

The individual was tested and sent home to await results before being taken to the high consequence infectious diseases unit at the Royal Free Hospital.

According to the NHS, while there have been a small number of cases of mpox in the UK since 2022, these have all been a strain called Clade 2, none of them have been of the more serious Clade 1 strain of the disease until now.

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”.

The disease is passed through close physical contact with someone who has developed symptoms. You can catch the disease by coming into contact with mpox blisters or scabs, for example if you kiss, cuddle, hold hands or have sex with someone who has these.

The disease can also be passed through touching clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with mpox, the NHS warned on their website. Mpox can also spread through coughs and sneezes at close proximity.

Symptoms of mpox

It normally takes between 5 and 21 days after you are first infected for the first symptoms to appear.

Early symptoms of mpox include:

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

Between one and five days after you first notice symptoms, a rash will start to appear in most cases. This can be anywhere on your body, including the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, mouth, genitals and anus, according to the NHS.

This can be accompanied by anal pain and bleeding from your bottom. The rash starts as raised spots which turn into sores or fluid-filled blisters which eventually scab and fall off.

Symptoms usually clear up after a few weeks but during this time you will be infectious to others. The NHS advises people to call 111 if they have a rash with blisters or sores and have had one or more new sexual partners in the past 3 weeks, or if you have 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.

People who suspect they may have mpox are advised to stay at home until they are told what to do, and call ahead to any clinic before visiting to explain they might have it.