BBC UK health officials are encouraging gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men to make sure they are vaccinated against mpox, 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 small numbers of cases of this strain of mpox – formerly known as monkeypox – in Spain, Italy, Portugal and the Netherlands, as well as the US.
Mpox is usually a mild infection but it can be severe and getting vaccinated is the best protection, the UKHSA says.
Charities also urged vaccination before travelling to Winter Pride events in Europe this autumn.
“The ways in which we are seeing mpox continue to spread globally is a reminder to come forward for the vaccine, if you are eligible,” said Dr Katy Sinka, head of sexually transmitted infections at UKHSA.
A new UKHSA report on mpox says there is now a high risk of clade I being imported into the UK through travel. But it says onwards spread “is likely to be controlled to some degree” by the existing vaccination programme for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM).