The French Ministry of Health has just announced the discovery of the first case of a new variant of monkeypox virus, in the context that the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to maintain the highest alert level for this disease.
According to an announcement from the French Ministry of Health, a case of infection with the clade 1b variant has been confirmed in the Brittany region in the west of the country.
In particular, this patient has no history of travel to Central Africa – where many variants of the virus circulate.
Authorities are currently conducting an investigation to determine the source of infection and trace close contacts.
Smallpox, which is related to smallpox, is zoonotic and can be spread from person to person through close contact.
WHO declared a state of emergency over the virus in August and further expanded it on November 22 after the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to WHO, clade 1b variants and other strains have been reported in 80 countries, including 19 in Africa.
The organization also warned European countries to prepare for “quick action” to control the latest variant./.
