MPOX TRACKER

The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) stringent handling of recent mpox cases has sparked controversy over its proportionality. Two businessmen returning from Uganda—both with minor symptoms—were subjected to extreme measures, including forced isolation, multi-vehicle police convoys, and warnings to discard household furnishings. Despite mpox’s low mortality rate (0.2%) and the lack of evidence suggesting Clade 1 is more severe than Clade 2, UKHSA has classified Clade 1b as a high-consequence infectious disease, justifying its aggressive containment policies.

One of the men, “Giles,” had an undetectable viral load until his PCR test was amplified to 30 cycles—raising concerns about overdiagnosis. Furthermore, having received a smallpox vaccine as a child, his risk of transmission was significantly reduced, yet UKHSA ignored this factor. Another patient, “Anthony,” described his experience as a “living nightmare,” questioning the necessity of his forced hospital stay and the resources spent on detaining him.

While UKHSA defends its actions as necessary to prevent further spread, critics argue that the agency lacks the legal authority to impose mandatory isolation. Unlike COVID-19, no emergency public health orders exist requiring compliance. The question remains whether UKHSA’s approach aligns with current risk levels or if it reflects outdated pandemic-era protocols.

UKHSA’s incident director, Dr. Will Welfare, acknowledged that mpox’s classification is subject to review, but no timeline for reevaluation has been given. With growing scrutiny over government spending and civil liberties, a balanced public health strategy is essential—one that upholds necessary precautions without excessive restrictions on individual freedoms. A review of current mpox containment measures is crucial to ensuring that responses remain both evidence-based and proportionate.