A major UK hospital is trying to trace down staff and patients who may have come into contact with a patient who entered A&E with mpox. Health officials at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge have reached out to around 30 patients and 20 staff members who may have had close contact with the infected person on the evening of Saturday, April 12.

The individual is now isolating at home under the care of their GP, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has been informed of the case. A spokesperson for Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are in contact with around 30 patients and 20 staff as a precautionary measure… to determine whether they are offered a vaccine or given advice around symptoms to look for and what to do.”

Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is typically found in parts of central and East Africa, though cases have emerged in the UK over the past two years.

The virus spreads through close contact and can cause symptoms such as fever, exhaustion, muscle aches, and a distinctive rash.

This latest incident comes just weeks after the UK confirmed a case of the Clade 1b strain of mpox in a person with no recent travel history or known contact with other infected individuals, sparking fears of undetected community transmission.

This more transmissible and potentially more severe variant has raised concerns among health experts.

Dr Krutika Kuppalli, associate professor of infectious diseases at the University of Texas Southwestern, called the new case “concerning,” warning that “it suggests possible undetected community transmission," which indicates that the virus may be spreading silently beyond the current reach of surveillance efforts.

So far, there have been 12 confirmed mpox cases in the UK, with only one, the most recent, not linked to travel or a known contact.

The UKHSA continues to monitor the situation, and health officials are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any concerning symptoms to their healthcare providers.