France Detects First Case of New Mpox Variant Clade 1b

The variant, linked to severe cases in Central Africa, has now been identified in five European countries, though the risk to the general population is deemed low.

French health officials confirmed the first case of the mpox clade 1b variant in Brittany, involving a woman who had contact with individuals returning from Central Africa.
Clade 1b, first identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is considered more transmissible and potentially more dangerous than previous variants.
The World Health Organization has maintained its highest alert level for mpox due to the continued spread of clade 1b, which has affected multiple countries since 2024.
Symptoms of mpox include fever, muscle aches, and pustular skin lesions, with severe cases potentially leading to complications like encephalitis or sepsis.
European health authorities, including France, emphasize the importance of vaccination for high-risk groups and continue to monitor for further cases.