Jersey’s health officials have reassured the public, stating there is “no significant cause for concern” after the first case of a more virulent strain of mpox was confirmed outside of Africa.
The confirmation came on Thursday when Sweden’s public health agency reported what is believed to be the first case of Clade I mpox outside the African continent. This announcement followed closely after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak in parts of Africa a public health emergency of international concern.
Addressing island residents on Tuesday, Dr. Rajesh Hembrom, Jersey’s clinical lead and consultant for integrated sexual health, HIV, and viral hepatitis, emphasized that the island is well-prepared, with “adequate” vaccine stocks available.
“There is no significant cause for concern at this stage, but the situation is being monitored closely,” Dr. Hembrom said. “Jersey currently has adequate stocks of the vaccine, and we are awaiting further guidance from the UK Health Security Agency, which we expect in the coming days.”
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is transmitted through close contact, including sexual contact, skin-to-skin interaction, and even proximity during talking or breathing. The disease manifests with flu-like symptoms and skin lesions and can be fatal in approximately four out of every 100 cases.
The initial outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo led to at least 450 deaths and has since spread to regions in Central and East Africa.
Despite the serious nature of the disease, Dr. Hembrom’s message aimed to calm public fears, assuring that the situation remains under control and that appropriate measures are in place to protect the community.