Mpox cases surge in Northern Ireland as UK scientists join Ebola trial

Twenty-one cases of mpox have been confirmed in Northern Ireland over the past three weeks, prompting the Public Health Agency to urge eligible people to get vaccinated before the summer holidays. The sharp rise follows just nine cases recorded in the region since 2023, according to the BBC. Dr Rachel Coyle, Consultant in Health Protection at the PHA, said: “We want to remind those who are eligible to get vaccinated. Vaccination is available for those eligible in Northern Ireland through sexual health clinics.” The agency is asking people to watch for symptoms including rashes with blisters, aches, fever and swollen glands that can last up to three weeks. The telltale sign is a distinctive rash that appears one to five days after other symptoms, starting as small raised spots that turn into ulcers or blisters before scabbing. Mpox is usually mild and can resolve in weeks, but while symptomatic the virus can be passed on through close physical contact, contaminated surfaces or coughs and sneezes. Those most at risk include older people, young children and anyone on immune-suppressing medication. Vaccination is recommended for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men with multiple partners, those who participate in group sex or attend sex-on-premises venues, and staff who work there. Meanwhile, UK scientists are involved in a global effort to combat another deadly virus. A trial of potential treatments for the Bundibugyo species of Ebola has begun in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization announced. The first patient has been enrolled in DR Congo, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. The trial is coordinated by the University of Oxford, alongside the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in DR Congo and the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium. Patients will be tested on two antiviral drugs. More than 1,400 cases and 438 deaths have been confirmed in DR Congo, where the outbreak began in May. “Even without approved therapeutics, people are recovering from this disease, but of course, we could save many more lives with safe and effective therapeutics in our toolkit,” Tedros told reporters. DR Congo’s Health Minister Dr Samuel Roger Kamba said the launch “represents a significant step forward, offering renewed hope to patients, their families, and affected communities”. The outbreak has spread beyond DR Congo’s eastern provinces, with a pregnant woman’s body testing positive in Tshopo province after being transported from Ituri, and a suspected case fleeing isolation in Ituri to test positive in Haut-Uele. Contact tracing is under way in both areas.