France Reports First Case of New Mpox Variant

France has confirmed its first case of the clade 1b mpox virus variant, according to the health ministry. The case was detected in the Brittany region and has prompted the implementation of oversight measures to prevent further spread.

Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral disease linked to smallpox. It can spread from animals to humans and through close physical contact between individuals. Symptoms include fever, muscle pain, and skin lesions, which can sometimes be severe.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared an emergency over the mpox outbreak last year and renewed its alert in November following increased cases in Africa. The recent case in France involves an individual who had contact with two people returning from central Africa, a region where the virus is actively circulating.

WHO has urged European countries to stay vigilant and act quickly to contain the spread of this variant, which has been reported in over 80 countries globally, including 19 in Africa.