Prime Highlights
- The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has urged gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men to get vaccinated following new clade Ib mpox cases in Europe.
- This is the first detection of clade Ib mpox in Europe without travel links, indicating community transmission of the strain globally.
Key Facts
- Locally acquired clade Ib mpox cases have been reported in the USA, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Portugal, mostly among gay and bisexual men.
- The mpox vaccine is safe and effective, and eligible individuals are encouraged to contact sexual health clinics for vaccination, especially before major events.
Background
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has urged gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men to get vaccinated against mpox after new cases of the clade Ib strain were identified across Europe. This is the first time this variant has been identified in countries with no known link to existing transmission areas.
In a statement issued on October 30, 2025, the UKHSA said that small numbers of locally acquired cases have been reported in the USA, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Portugal. Most cases have been found among gay and bisexual men, a group in which this form of mpox had not been previously observed. The agency said this indicates that community transmission of clade Ib mpox is now occurring globally.
Mpox is usually mild, but it can cause a rash, fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and other symptoms that last up to four weeks. The UKHSA said that clade Ia and Ib mpox are no longer considered high-risk infectious diseases in most cases.
In August 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global public health emergency after clade I mpox cases rose quickly in Africa and spread to Europe and Asia.
Nathan Burley, a public health pharmacist with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said that the mpox vaccine works well and is safe. He encouraged eligible individuals to contact local sexual health clinics and get vaccinated, especially before major events such as Winter Pride in Gran Canaria.
