First case of Clade I mpox detected in Ireland, says HSE

Clade I mpox is different from Clade II mpox which has been circulating at low levels in Ireland since 2022.

The HSE has confirmed it has detected its first case of Clade I mpox in Ireland. 

It was detected in an Irish resident who had just returned after travelling to the Democratic Republic of Congo where the virus is "circulating in the community".

Clade I mpox is different from Clade II mpox which has been circulating at low levels in Ireland since 2022. However, both clades are similar in terms of their effect on human health and there is an effective vaccine.

The health service said the person is now receiving specialist care in hospital in the east of the country and the risk to the Irish public remains low. 

"It is not unexpected, as small numbers of cases have been seen in Europe and countries outside Africa in people who have travelled from countries where mpox is spreading in the community," a spokesperson for the HSE said. 

Director of National Health Protection at the HSE Dr Éamonn O’Moore said: “I would like to reassure the public that the risk to the Irish population remains low. 

"Close contacts are being contacted by the local public health team. They have been given appropriate advice to reduce the risk of any potential spread and will be followed up with until there is no longer any risk of developing infection. As part of our public health work, we are also investigating how the individual acquired the infection.

“The HSE is fully prepared to respond to this case, as work has been ongoing since August 2024. We have been working alongside international partners and National Health Protection has been monitoring mpox closely since the outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo first emerged," Dr O'Moore added. 

The HSE is urging those who have recently returned from a country where mpox is circulating in the community to look out for symptoms for three weeks and seek medical advice if they have any concerns. 

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.

Anyone with symptoms should self-isolate and phone their doctor promptly. While most cases are mild, early detection and care can help prevent further spread.

Mpox can be passed on through close person-to-person contact and through contact with contaminated materials. It may also spread from animals to people in areas where infected animals are found.