Two more cases of a new strain of mpox have been detected in the UK, officials have confirmed.

This brings the total number of confirmed cases of the Clade lb mpox strain in the country to three.

The World Health Organisation has declared a public health emergency of international concern

The latest cases of Clade 1b mpox have been detected in household contacts of the first case, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

All three patients were infected with the Clade 1b variant, which appears to transmit more easily.

Both cases were detected in household contacts of the first case, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the UK to three.

Two patients are currently having specialist care at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS trust in London after the first case of Clade lb mpox strain was found in the UK last week

The clade 1b variant is a new form of the virus that is linked to a global health emergency declared by the WHO in August.

Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Two additional cases of a new strain of mpox have been detected in Britain, national health officials said Monday, less than a week after the first case was announced to the public.

The new infections were detected among the household contacts of the country’s first confirmed case.

The symptoms start as flu-like but those falling ill then develop a rash