Australia has recorded its first case of the mpox clade 1b variant, known to cause more severe illness, according to the Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC).

The case, detected earlier this month in New South Wales, is the only confirmed instance of this variant in the country to date.

The infected individual, a man who contracted the virus while holidaying in Thailand, developed symptoms upon returning to Australia, a NSW Health spokesperson reported. The man has since recovered, and the federal Department of Health stated that the risk of further transmission remains low, as the case involved a returned traveler.

Mpox, a viral zoonotic disease related to smallpox, is divided into two main clades: clade 1 and clade 2. Clade 1, which includes the 1b subclade identified in this case, is historically associated with more severe illness and higher mortality rates compared to clade 2. Health authorities are monitoring the situation closely to prevent any potential spread. (ILKHA)