The Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed the first case of the Clade 1 mpox variant in the Republic of Ireland. The infected individual, an Irish resident, recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the more contagious strain has been spreading. Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, was classified as a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO) last August. Despite the detection of this case, the HSE has assured the public that the overall risk remains low.

The patient is currently receiving specialist medical care in a Dublin hospital. The HSE emphasised that those who have had two doses of the mpox vaccine or a previous infection are likely to be protected against severe illness from this newer strain. Dr Éamonn O’Moore, Director of National Health Protection, stated that health authorities have been closely monitoring the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and are fully prepared to respond.

Mpox is caused by a virus related to smallpox but is generally less severe. It spreads through direct skin contact, bodily fluids, contaminated materials such as bedding, and prolonged face-to-face interactions. Symptoms typically include flu-like illness, followed by a rash that can develop into painful, pus-filled lesions lasting several weeks. While most cases resolve within 14 to 21 days, the virus can be life-threatening for vulnerable groups, including young children.

The Clade 1 strain is considered more severe than Clade 2, which was responsible for the 2022 outbreak. Although Clade 2 cases in Ireland have remained low - with only eight reported in 2025 - health experts are alarmed by the rapid spread of Clade 1 across central and west Africa. The WHO has designated the outbreak as an international public health emergency, with millions of vaccine doses being distributed to affected regions. Several countries, including Sweden, Germany, India, Thailand, Canada, and the US, have detected Clade 1b cases.