Virologist explains the likelihood of a lockdown over mpox outbreak
A virologist has revealed the likelihood of the current mpox outbreak resulting in a lockdown across the UK.
On Thursday (16 August) the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that the ongoing Clade 1b strain of mpox was a global health emergency after a massive uptick in cases across various countries in Africa and one confirmed case in Sweden.
As the UK braces for its first confirmed case of mpox, Brits will be understandably concerned by the news - especially as it comes just a couple of years after the Covid-19 pandemic.
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With fears over the stockpiling of toilet rolls and feeling like you've been put on house arrest still fresh on the nation's minds, it's understandable that hearing the words 'global health emergency' will be a particularly unwelcome one for many UK residents.
However, there may not be any cause for concern as things currently stand, according to a virologist.
What are the chances of an mpox lockdown?
Speaking to LADbible about the ongoing outbreak, virologist and University of Hull lecturer, Dr Cheryl Walter, was keen to reassure people that we are currently not at risk of seeing a lockdown due to mpox at the moment.
"My educated guess, and it is educated guess is no," she explained, adding that the country is in 'a different situation when it comes to mpox'.
"[They are] two very different viruses that are transmitted differently. And of course, we're not at a standing start with mpox. We do have vaccines that prevent mpox. We also have some antiviral medication, so straight away, very, very different scenario," she continued to say.
"However, this is a very dangerous variant that's circulating, and I think some people will panic, but I'm of the belief that it's better to be cautious now, to alert all healthcare agencies."
She added: "Generally, people are going to be absolutely fine. They might have to isolate, just like with Covid-19.
"They might have to isolate until they're no longer infectious, and the usual self care when someone's ill with a bug, staying hydrated, rest, pain relief etc."
What makes this strain of mpox so deadly?
Dr Walter explained that it is currently too soon to tell if the Clade 1b strain of mpox is more transmissible than others as further research needs to be done, however, she was keen to stress that the main concern at the moment is that it is 'far more deadly'.
"What we can definitely say for certain about this particular strain, which is called Clade 1b is that it is far more deadly," she explained.
"So it has a case fatality rate of between three and 4% that's really, really high. "And then pox was in the news not that long ago, only two years ago, and that particular variant only had a case fatality rate of 0.1%."
Particular causes for concern are the fact that around '10 percent of people with mpox can be 'asymptomatic', whereas others can have more generalised symptoms early on.
Brenna Cooper