The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the first case of Mpox in Italy. The virus is caused by the clade Ib strain, which is known for being highly transmissible and for resulting in a more severe clinical presentation. The patient is an adult male who has recently returned from Tanzania, a country currently experiencing active viral transmission. This information is included in the WHO’s 54th update on the multinational Mpox outbreak. Clade Ib has also been identified in Ethiopia and other African countries and entered Europe with the first confirmed case in Sweden in August 2024. In May 2025 alone, 6,823 cases and 16 deaths were recorded globally across 49 countries, with active transmission in 18 nations within the WHO African Region. In response to the spread of clade Ib, the WHO has updated its clinical management and infection control guidelines. Italian health authorities are closely monitoring the situation to prevent any potential local transmission.
Massimo Serresi
