Deadly mpox variant Clade 1b spreads in Europe amid rush for vaccines
Multiple people hospitalised after virus spreads across Europe
- A potentially lethal mpox variant, clade 1b, is spreading across Europe, with at least 45 cases recorded since August, leading to hospitalisations.
- The clade 1b variant carries a reported mortality rate as high as 10 per cent in children, posing a significant threat.
- Cases have been identified in ten European countries, including Germany, France, and the UK, where 19 cases were recorded between its first appearance and last month.
- Experts, such as Professor Michael Marks, attribute the European spread to a "major failure to adequately vaccinate" populations in Africa, where significant outbreaks have been ongoing.
- An effective vaccine is available, and a new contract will supply up to eight million doses to European nations, with provisions for donations to low-income countries.