• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Virologist explains the likelihood of a lockdown over mpox outbreak

Home> News> Health

Published 16:10 16 Aug 2024 GMT+1

Virologist explains the likelihood of a lockdown over mpox outbreak

The WHO recently declared the outbreak a global health emergency

Brenna Cooper

Brenna Cooper

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.

The WHO has declared mpox a global health emergency. (Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The WHO has declared mpox a global health emergency. (Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Advert

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'.

Advert

"[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.

The risk of a mpox lockdown is currently extremely low (Getty Stock Images)
The risk of a mpox lockdown is currently extremely low (Getty Stock Images)

"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'.

Advert

"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.

Featured Image Credit: Getty stock images

Topics: Health, UK News

Brenna Cooper
Brenna Cooper

Brenna Cooper is a journalist at LADbible. She graduated from the University of Sheffield with a degree in History, followed by an NCTJ accredited masters in Journalism. She began her career as a freelance writer for Digital Spy, where she wrote about all things TV, film and showbiz. Her favourite topics to cover are music, travel and any bizarre pop culture.

X

@_brencoco

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

10 hours ago
11 hours ago
  • 10 hours ago

    Everything we know about Texas floods that have killed at least 121 as Trump arrives at disaster site

    The President and the First Lady have headed to the state one week after the horror floods wreaked havoc

    News
  • 10 hours ago

    Scientists make surprising discovery at what lies under Antarctic ice sheet after its been covered in ice for 34 million years

    It could help scientists predict the future of the ice sheet

    News
  • 11 hours ago

    Paedophile to be surgically castrated after raping girl, 6, in nation's shock new punishment tactic

    It comes a year after a law was passed in Madagascar permitting the controversial punishment

    News
  • 11 hours ago

    Scientists think they've worked out what unknown interstellar object in our solar system is

    It came from outside our own solar system

    News
  • The World Health Organisation declares mpox outbreak a global emergency as new form of virus spreads
  • Lizzo puts record straight over huge weight loss as she explains truth behind Ozempic rumours
  • Psychotherapist explains why Gen Z are having a 'fridge cigarette' in the afternoon
  • Mum-of-five's agony trying to save nipples and breast after Turkey boob job complications mean she can't leave the country