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The Public Health Agency (PHA) in Northern Ireland has reported a sharp rise in mpox cases, with 21 infections confirmed over the past three weeks. This recent surge contrasts starkly with the previous period since 2023, during which only nine cases had been documented across the region. The majority of the recent cases have been identified among men who have sex with men, leading health officials to emphasize the importance of vaccination for those at increased risk.
Dr Rachel Coyle, a health protection consultant at the PHA, explained the situation to BBC News NI, highlighting the sudden increase in diagnoses. She noted, “Over the last three weeks we’ve had 21 cases of mpox diagnosed in Northern Ireland. To put that into context, through the rest of 2026 up ’til now we haven’t had any cases of mpox diagnosed, so it does represent quite a quick increase in the number of cases being diagnosed here.” The PHA is therefore urging eligible individuals to reach out to their local sexual health clinics to receive the mpox vaccine.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, was first detected in Northern Ireland during the 2022 global outbreak. At that time, the strain involved was primarily clade II. However, Dr Coyle pointed out that the current cases involve a different strain: “We talk about two different strains of mpox. In 2022 it was the clade II strain that was mostly circulating, now we’re talking about clade Ib, so it’s a slightly different strain.” Since the initial outbreak resulting in 34 cases in 2022, only nine clade II infections were detected between 2023 and early 2026. The recent 21 cases in June 2026 mark the first appearance of the clade Ib strain in Northern Ireland.
Mpox is caused by a virus related to smallpox but tends to be much less severe. Early symptoms include fever, headaches, muscle aches, back pain, and swollen lymph nodes. Following the fever, a blistering rash often develops, typically beginning on the face or genital areas before spreading elsewhere on the body. This rash progresses through stages such as flat spots, raised spots, blisters, and finally scabs. To curb transmission, individuals infected with mpox should avoid sexual contact while symptomatic. The PHA encourages vaccination mainly for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), especially those with multiple partners or those who attend group sex gatherings or sex-on-premises venues. However, those who completed a vaccination course in 2022 do not need to receive an additional vaccine dose
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