Genetically different variant of the Monkeypox virus was discovered for the first time, experts closely follow the situation

According to the announcement made by the UK’s health authority, a new strain of monkeypox has been discovered in the country. According to the United Kingdom’s Health and Safety Agency (UKHSA), a person who had recently returned from West Africa became infected with a genetically distinct version of the virus from the one that was responsible for the outbreak in the United Kingdom.

For the time being, everyone who has contact with the patient is being investigated in order to find out if there are any other infections. It is currently unknown whether or if the person in question is male or female, as well as their age.

There are two genetically distinct strains of the monkeypox virus: the Central African strain, also known as “Clade I,” and the West African strain, often known as “Clade II.” Both strains originate in Africa.

The Congo strain is associated with a more severe form of the sickness, which has a mortality rate of 10.6 percent. On the other hand, the West African strain is associated with a milder version of the disease, which has a fatality rate of 3.6 percent.

Additional research is being conducted at this time in order to determine whether the individual in question belongs to Clan I, another subspecies of Clan II, or a completely new kind.

The Director of Incidents at UKHSA, Dr. Sofia Maki, made the following statement:

We are making efforts to get in touch with persons who had close contact with the case before it was determined that they were infected so that we can evaluate them and provide recommendations as appropriate. The UK Health and Safety Executive and the National Health Service both have well-established protocols for dealing with cases of imported infectious diseases. These protocols will be adhered to in a stringent manner, and the risk to the general public is very minimal. We would like to advise everyone who is contemplating a trip to West and Central Africa that they should be familiar with the signs and symptoms of monkeypox and that they should consult a medical professional if they acquire symptoms after returning from their trip.

There have been at least 3,279 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the UK, with only 79 being discovered in the most recent week. This number is significantly lower than the 126 cases reported the week before and the 167 cases reported the week before that. Despite the fact that the global death toll has already surpassed 50,000, the UK Health and Safety Executive (UKHSA) is optimistic that the epidemic is on the decline.

SIGA Technologies, a health security company whose research is funded by the United States government to combat the threat of biological weapons, has developed an antiviral agent known as Tecovirimat to combat smallpox and related viruses, including monkeypox. Tecovirimat is also effective against the virus that causes monkeypox.

In the United States, Tecovirimat, which is marketed under the brand name TPOXX, has been given the go-ahead to be used as a treatment for chickenpox.