A former mpox patient has told Sky News of his “horrendous” symptoms – as an expert warned a new deadlier variant is “very likely” to already be in the UK.
The clade 1b strain has been confirmed in Sweden and Pakistan after first being detected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and is believed to be the most dangerous so far.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak a global health emergency this week due to it spreading to 13 African countries, where more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths have been reported.
Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert, told Sky News it was “very likely” someone in the UK already has the new variant of the viral disease.
However, he said it probably wouldn’t be confirmed for a few weeks until people with symptoms visit a doctor and their samples are tested.
“When someone gets an infection it typically takes several days before they develop the classic appearance that would make people think ‘oh, this is mpox‘,” Prof Hunter said.
“Then it can take longer before the samples are taken and sent to the lab, it’s identified as mpox and sent for sequencing so we know which clade of mpox it is.”
The disease causes blisters on the face and elsewhere and mainly spreads when fluid from these lesions is passed on during sexual contact.
It normally begins with fairly non-specific symptoms that could be mistaken for flu or COVID, before blisters start to emerge, said Prof Hunter.
Despite being the second time in three years that mpox – previously known as monkeypox – has been declared an emergency, he said for most people it’s a “relatively mild” illness they recover from of their own accord.
Prof Hunter said the risk of infection is also very low unless people are involved in certain “sexual networks” involving multiple partners – with the DRC strain first spotted among sex workers.
Infection via methods such as reusing towels and other skin-to-skin contact is possible but rare, he added.
The virus has been declared an emergency after its spread in Africa. Pic: Reuters
‘Horrendous high fever and pain’
Harun Tulunay had mpox during the previous 2022 outbreak and said it started with flu-like symptoms such as high fever and muscle aches – before lesions and scars started to appear.
They also formed in his throat, but he said it was a battle to get taken seriously as health professionals weren’t as aware of the virus as they are now.
Mr Tulunay said it was “really scary” as his pleas for an ambulance were initially denied and he was misdiagnosed four times.
Harun Tulunay in hospital when he caught mpox in 2022
Mr Tulunay spoke to Sky News after the outbreak of the new strain
“After two weeks of horrendous high fever and pain, I wasn’t able to move or drink or eat anymore – at that point I was hospitalised,” he told Sky News.
Even when he made in to a hospital, he said it took three days to get the correct diagnosis.
“After 11 days in hospital I felt better and I further isolated for two weeks at home until all the scars disappeared and I was fully healed,” he said.
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Mr Tulunay still has a small mark on his nose, but apart from that he is scar-free and the virus is no longer in his body as it’s a short-term condition.
Because his case was severe, Mr Tulunay was vaccinated against future strains.
He strongly believes the vaccine should be rolled out more widely, especially in Africa where the new variant was first detected, and to higher risk groups like sex workers and health workers.
“If there (was) a vaccine available in Africa, we wouldn’t be facing a 2024 version of mpox right now,” he told Sky News.
He said the 2022 outbreak was a missed opportunity to get a programme established.
“There’s only one company that produces the vaccinations and there is high demand, and there is not enough vaccinations produced by countries around the world,” he added.
The existing mpox vaccine is said to give protection against the new strain. Pic: AP
The UK Health Security Agency has said the risk “is currently considered low” – while the existing mpox vaccine is said to be effective against the new strain.
A less severe mpox variant, clade 2, prompted a WHO health warning in 2022 and is still present in the UK – with about 180 cases detected this year, Prof Hunter said.
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He added: “Although the mortality rate [for the new variant] in Africa is quite high – 3-4 % – it’s likely to be much lower if it does spread throughout Europe.”
Anyone with a potential infection is advised to go their genito-urinary clinic or see a GP.
