New Mpox Strain Identified in China:
Amid the already widespread HMPV virus in China, a new strain of mpox has caused a stir in the country. On Thursday, January 9, 2025, Chinese health authorities announced that they had identified a new strain of monkeypox, “Clade IB.” This news comes at a time when the World Health Organization (WHO) had declared mpox a global public health emergency last year.
Emergence and Current Status of Clade IB
According to reports, China’s Disease Control and Prevention Center stated that this strain was previously found in Congo and some other African countries. The initial spread of the virus in China began from a foreign national who was found to be infected. After coming into contact with this person, four more cases were reported. Infected individuals have shown mild symptoms, including rashes and blisters on their skin.
Measures Taken to Prevent Mpox
China’s National Health Commission has classified this disease as a Category B infectious disease, which allows authorities to take emergency measures. These measures include preventing crowd gatherings, temporarily closing schools and workplaces, and sealing off affected areas. In August of the previous year, China started monitoring incoming travelers and goods to prevent the spread of the infection.
Spread and Symptoms of Mpox
Mpox primarily spreads through close contact with an infected individual. Symptoms include flu-like conditions and pus-filled skin lesions. Typically, this infection is not fatal, but in rare cases, it can be deadly.
Global Context of Mpox
This is the second time in the past two years that WHO has declared mpox a global emergency. This decision was made following an outbreak of monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The variant has now spread from DRC to neighboring countries such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. This has made global health agencies more alert.
This new strain of mpox is proving to be a challenge for health services, and strict measures are being taken to control it.