First Human Case of Mpox Clade 1b Detected in Brittany, France
The French Ministry of Health has reported the first human case of mpox clade 1b in Brittany, western France. The individual, who had not traveled to Central Africa, had been in contact with two people returning from the region where this variant is actively circulating.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the origin of the contamination and identify potential contact cases. This variant, also reported in Sweden, Germany, the UK, and Belgium since the summer, is still considered to pose a low risk of infection to the general population in France and Europe, according to the ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control).
Mpox, initially identified in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, causes skin lesions, high fever, and muscle pain. Since 2022, it has spread beyond its historical circulation zones, now affecting several regions worldwide.
