Europe’s got a new health headache on its hands: the deadly ‘clade I’ mpox strain has arrived.
This isn’t your garden-variety virus; it’s a nastier version that’s got experts calling for better testing and treatment—fast.
The big question: Is Europe ready to handle this? According to some, the answer is a big, resounding “no.”
Dr. Avinash Hari Narayanan, who heads things up at London Medical Laboratory, isn’t mincing words.
Sweden just reported its first case of the ‘clade Ib’ strain, and it’s a stark reminder that this more dangerous variant is no longer something happening “over there.”
Unlike the less threatening clade II strain that caused the 2022 outbreak, clade I is far more lethal.
How bad is it? The CDC says some outbreaks have seen up to 10% of patients not making it. Those aren’t odds you want to mess with.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is also waving the red flag, warning that clade I doesn’t just make you sick—it can kill, especially in places where it’s already taken root.
This scary reality makes one thing clear: we need better tests and treatments, and we need them yesterday.
Right now, diagnosing mpox mostly relies on PCR tests that take samples from rashes or lesions.
The catch? Those rashes often show up late in the game, meaning you’re already well into the infection by the time anyone realises what’s going on.
Dr. Narayanan points out that it can take up to three weeks for symptoms to appear, and by then, a rash might not even be the first sign. That’s a lot of time for the virus to spread undetected.
For people without visible rashes but who are feeling all kinds of awful, viral throat swabs are another option, though they aren’t quick.
These tests can take days to come back, which isn’t exactly helpful when you’re trying to catch this thing early.
And while blood tests might seem like the go-to, they’re not great at pinpointing mpox specifically—they can’t tell the difference between this virus and its close relatives.
Dr. Narayanan is pushing for better blood tests that can catch mpox early, long before symptoms go full throttle.
And if that wasn’t enough, there’s also the issue of treatment—or rather, the lack of it. Right now, the focus is mostly on managing symptoms rather than going after the virus itself.
In severe cases, doctors are reaching for old smallpox drugs like tecovirimat and cidofovir.
The UK Government knows the stakes are high and is trying to get healthcare workers up to speed on how to recognise and treat mpox before it spirals out of control.
Spotting mpox isn’t always easy, especially since its early symptoms can look a lot like other illnesses—chickenpox, herpes, or even bacterial skin infections.
We’re talking about fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, swollen glands, chills, and serious fatigue.
A rash usually follows, starting on the face and then spreading to places you really don’t want it—like your mouth, genitals, and anus.
Dr. Narayanan has some advice for anyone who’s recently been to Central Africa or been in close contact with someone who has: if you’re feeling off, get checked out.
London Medical Laboratory offers at-home sexual health tests, so you can keep tabs on your health without the hassle.
For those more generally worried about their health, especially if you’ve got underlying conditions, it might be worth getting a thorough check-up.
London Medical Laboratory’s General Health Profile blood test is a good way to spot potential problems early. You can do it from home or pop into one of their clinics.
With this more dangerous mpox strain on the move, Europe needs to step up its game when it comes to testing and treatment. Lives are on the line, and the time for action is now.