France's health ministry confirmed its first case of the clade 1b variant of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox. The case, identified in the Brittany region, involves an individual who had no recent travel history to central Africa. However, the person had contact with two individuals who had recently returned from the region.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously highlighted the global concern over mpox outbreaks, with the virus detected in over 80 countries, including 19 in Africa. The organization renewed its emergency alert in November, emphasizing the need for vigilance and rapid containment measures.
Mpox, a zoonotic disease related to smallpox, is transmitted to humans via infected animals and close human contact. Symptoms include fever, muscle pain, and large skin lesions, which can lead to severe outcomes.
France's health ministry stated that inquiries are ongoing to trace the origin of this infection and identify close contacts. WHO continues to call for proactive monitoring across European nations to curb the spread of this variant.
