WHO says mpox 'shows rising trend' after first four cases in UK

The World Health Organization is to hold a summit to discuss the future of mpox after more than 1,000 deaths from the virus. The first four cases of the new strain have been detected in the UK and the health agency today said the number of mpox infections "shows a general rising trend".

Last week, Africa CDC's director Dr Jean Kaseya said the continent was "still in the acute phase" of the mpox epidemic, with 19 countries affected. He warned that without more resources to stop the virus in Africa, it could become a global threat.

WHO said the mpox outbreak in Burundi is also being driven by the newer variant, which causes less severe symptoms - meaning people who are infectious may not realize they are spreading it. In the last two weeks, Burundi has reported more than 200 new mpox cases every week, mostly in children and young adults.

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In Uganda, which reported 100 new cases last week, WHO said the virus is spreading mostly through sex, with the vast majority of cases in adults. Mpox, which was previously known as monkeypox because it was first seen in research monkeys, is spread primarily through close skin-to-skin contact with infected people or their soiled clothes or bedsheets. It often causes visible skin lesions that could make people less likely to be in close contact with others.

In August, WHO declared the rapid spread of mpox to be a global health emergency. To date, Africa has reported more than 46,000 suspected cases, including 1,081 deaths.

WHO also said it would convene an expert meeting next Monday to determine if mpox still constitutes an international emergency.

Last week, Britain announced the first instance of the more infectious kind of mpox spreading beyond Africa. It identified mpox in a person who had recently travelled to Africa and in three of their household contacts. All the individuals are currently being treated in two London hospitals.