New Monkeypox strain identified in UK

A new strain of Monkeypox has been identified in the UK, the country's health authorities said.

British health authorities confirmed that an individual has been diagnosed with monkeypox linked to recent travel to West Africa.

"Preliminary genomic sequencing conducted by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) indicates that this case does not have the current outbreak strain circulating in the UK," the UKHSA said in a statement.

The individual has been admitted to the High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) unit at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in line with standing advice from the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP).

Contact tracing of close contacts of the individual is underway. So far, no further linked cases have been identified.

Dr Sophia Maki reminded everyone who is planning to travel to West and Central Africa to be alert for the symptoms of monkeypox.