Skip to main content

Cookies on UKHSA data dashboard

We use some essential cookies to make this service work.

We'd like to set additional cookies so we can remember your settings, understand how people use the service and make improvements.

View cookies
UKHSA data dashboard

BetaThis is a new service - your feedback will help us to improve it.

BackEntry title:

Mpox clade 1b total cases

Last updated on Wednesday, 12 March 2025 at 10:11am

Summary

Topic
mpox-clade-1b
Category
headline
API name
mpox-clade-1b_headline_countTotal

Rationale

The timely identification of cases is important to controlling the spread of mpox and reducing the burden on healthcare systems.

Definition

This metric shows the total count of mpox clade Ib cases for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Methodology

For England

Mpox surveillance data for England is based on test results from the Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL). RIPL is the UKHSA mpox reference laboratory and includes tests for mpox and orthopox. Other laboratories testing for mpox and orthopox in the UK also contribute to mpox surveillance data.

We use a positive mpox polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to classify a suspected sample of mpox as a confirmed case. RIPL also conducts genetic analysis, known as clade typing, to further categorise the case into clades. An individual with a positive mpox PCR test result and clade typing result of clade Ib is defined as a case of mpox clade Ib.

Local and regional laboratories report all positive mpox PCR tests to UKHSA via the Second Generation Surveillance System (SGSS). SGSS is an application that stores and manages data on laboratory isolates and notifications. It is the preferred method for capturing routine laboratory surveillance data on infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance from diagnostic laboratories across England.

Laboratory data for mpox is extracted from SGSS, cleaned, deduplicated and then enhanced with data from UKHSA’s Case and Incident Management System (CIMS). CIMS is used to record and control activity and decisions taken in managing cases, incidents, situations, outbreaks and enquiries. This information is used to generate a dataset listing mpox clade Ib cases in England. This is known as the national line list. The line list used for reporting weekly numbers is generated on Mondays.

Public health bodies in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland submit confirmed cases to UKHSA.

For Wales

Mpox surveillance data for Wales is based on test results from the Public Health Wales (PHW) Microbiology Laboratory, Cardiff. We use a positive mpox polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to classify a suspected sample of mpox as a confirmed case. PHW Microbiology Laboratory, Cardiff also conducts genetic analysis, known as clade typing, to further categorise the case into clades. Mpox testing (but not clade typing) is being rolled out in other PHW laboratories.

An individual with a positive mpox PCR test result and clade typing result of clade Ib is defined as a case of mpox clade Ib.

Laboratory data for mpox is extracted from Welsh Laboratory Information Management System Wales (WLIMS), cleaned, deduplicated and then enhanced with data from PHW’s Case and Incident Management System (Tarian). Tarian is used to record and control activity and decisions taken in managing cases, incidents, situations, outbreaks and enquiries. This information is used to generate a dataset listing mpox clade Ib cases in Wales.

All positive mpox PCR tests are reported to UKHSA by PHW Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC) via the Egress system, for national reporting.

For Scotland

Mpox surveillance data for Scotland is based on test results from diagnostic and reference laboratories.

We use a positive mpox polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to classify a suspected sample of mpox as a confirmed case. Clade typing is performed by the West of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre (WoSSVC) and Edinburgh Specialist Virology Centre (SVC). An individual with a positive mpox PCR test result and clade typing result of clade Ib is defined as a case of mpox clade Ib.

All laboratories in Scotland report positive and negative mpox PCR tests to Public Health Scotland via the Electronic Communication of Surveillance in Scotland (ECOSS) system. ECOSS is a surveillance system updated daily with positive and negative test results from all Scottish diagnostic and reference laboratories.

Laboratory data for mpox is extracted from EOSS. It is cleaned, deduplicated and then enhanced with data collected from enhanced surveillance captured in REDCap (software used for building and managing online surveys. This information will be used to generate a dataset listing mpox clade Ib cases in Scotland.

For Northern Ireland

Mpox is notifiable in Northern Ireland under the Public Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1967. Diagnosis of mpox in Northern Ireland relies on test results from the Regional Virus Laboratory (RVL), a UKAS-accredited provider of clinical virology testing services for hospitals, general practitioners (GPs) and public health professionals.

RVL is the regional laboratory for mpox testing in Northern Ireland. Testing includes mpox and other orthopoxviruses. RVL classifies a highly probable mpox case based on a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for orthopoxvirus and a confirmed case where the sample is positive for MPXV by PCR.

All MPXV-positive samples undergo clade typing to further categorise the case. A case is defined as mpox clade Ib if both of the following conditions are met:

  • the individual has a positive MPXV PCR test result
  • the clade typing result confirms clade Ib

Mpox cases are notified to the Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland) and recorded onto a case management system, which is used as the source data for mpox surveillance and epidemiology.

Caveats

The SGSS is a live system and is therefore provisional and subject to change. Additionally, there is an estimated delay of up to five days between a sample being confirmed as mpox clade Ib and the report appearing in the SGSS and the national line list. Cases confirmed after the weekly line list is generated on a Monday will not appear in the total count of cases until the following week’s update.

Corrections can be applied between updates, such as enhancements to patient information and the removal of quality assurance samples from laboratory surveillance systems.

As mpox continues to be a notifiable infection, weekly case counts are separately published in the UKHSA’s weekly notifications of infectious diseases (NOIDs) in England report.

Routine monthly updates on both clade Ib and clade IIb mpox cases in the UK are also separately published.

Case counts presented within the UKHSA data dashboard may not align with those published in these related statistical outputs, due to differences in timings of when initial provisional data, and any later revisions, are compiled and published.

Back to top