ABVC Disease Alert Issue No. 30 | Mpox Clade Ib in Belgium, China, and France

Belgium On December 18, 2024, the Belgian health authorities reported a first confirmed case of mpox Clade Ib in the country. Currently, two cases of the new variant have been reported. The situation is under control and the risk of infection for the general population is low. China On January 9, 2025, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) announced the detection of the first cluster of human cases of mpox Clade Ib in China. France On January 6, 2025, French health authorities reported the detection of the first human case of mpox Clade Ib in mainland France, located in Brittany. This case represents the first documented occurrence of this sub-variant outside Africa in 2025.