No cause for concern over mpox - health chiefs

Dr Rajesh Hembrom said health chiefs were waiting for further guidance from the UK Health Security Agency

Jersey's health chiefs say there is "no significant cause for concern" after the first case of a more dangerous strain of mpox was confirmed outside Africa.

On Thursday, Sweden's public health agency recorded what it said is the first case of Clade I mpox hours after the World Health Organization declared the outbreak in parts of Africa a public health emergency of international concern.

On Tuesday, Dr Rajesh Hembrom told islanders there was "no significant cause for concern" and that the island had "adequate" stocks of vaccine.

At least 450 people died during an initial outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the disease has since spread to areas of Central and East Africa.

'Awaiting further guidance'

Mpox, which was previously known as monkeypox, is transmitted through close contact, such as sex, skin-to-skin contact and talking or breathing close to another person.

It causes flu-like symptoms, skin lesions and can be fatal, with four in 100 cases leading to death.

Dr Rajesh Hembrom, island clinical lead and consultant for integrated sexual health, HIV and viral hepatitis, said: “There is no significant cause for concern at this stage but the situation is being monitored closely.

"Jersey currently has adequate stocks of the vaccine, and we are awaiting further guidance from the UK Health Security Agency. We expect this in the coming days.”