The UK Health Protection Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that a new case of clade IB MPOX has been found in East Sussex.

First found in Central Africa, this type of virus Appears to be transmitted more easily between people. Symptoms include pus-filled wounds, fever, headache and low energy.

The man is now in specialist care at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. He had recently returned from Uganda where there is currently community transmission of clade IB MPOX.

The case becomes the sixth case to be confirmed in England since October 2024.

“The risk to the UK population is low,” said Dr Meera Chand, UKHSA deputy director.

“We are working quickly to trace close contacts and reduce the risk of any potential spread,” he said.

The first case was detected in London in October, with three subsequent cases affecting people who were household contacts of the first patient. A fifth case was detected in Leeds in late October.

This sixth case is not related to the previously detected cases.

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