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The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has urged gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men to come forward for mpox vaccination, after cases of clade Ib mpox were identified in Europe for the first time.
In a statement published on 30 October 2025, the UKHSA said it was aware of “small numbers of locally acquired cases of clade Ib mpox in the USA, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal”, which it said “have no connection to countries with known clade Ib mpox transmission”.
Most of the new cases identified in Europe and the United States have been “in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, a population in which clade Ib mpox transmission has not previously been observed”, the statement added.
“This suggests there is now community transmission of clade Ib mpox globally.”
Although mpox is usually a mild infection, clade Ia and Ib mpox are no longer classified as a high-consequence infectious disease for most cases.
Common symptoms of mpox include a skin rash or pus-filled lesions, which can last two to four weeks. It can also cause fever, headaches, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.
In August 2024, the World Health Organization declared that clade I mpox — a new strain — had triggered a global outbreak and rated it a public-health emergency of international concern. This announcement followed a rapid rise in cases across parts of Africa, with the outbreak spreading beyond the usual endemic zones and two travel-related cases being reported in Sweden and Thailand in August 2024.
On 16 September 2024, the UKHSA announced that the UK government ordered more than 150,000 vaccine doses for mpox, indicating preparedness.
The agency issued additional guidance in August 2024, which advised all healthcare providers, including community pharmacy teams, to implement protocols for isolation, rapid testing and staff training in the event of suspected mpox.
Commenting on the UKHSA’s statement, Nathan Burley, advanced public and sexual health services pharmacist with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “Recently the mpox vaccine has been rolled out more widely across England and is both safe and effective.
“Eligible individuals, including gay and bisexual men who have sex with men, should check in with their local sexual health clinic to see how to get vaccinated. Travellers to events like Winter Pride coming up in Gran Canaria should be conscious that now is the best time to get vaccinated.”
People can check if they are eligible for an mpox vaccine or book an appointment here.
