British tourists heading to Spain have been urged to take extra precautions after Spanish health officials confirmed 82 cases of mpox clade Ib. According to Travel Health Pro, as of 17 February 2026, 62 of these cases were reported in men who have sex with men.
The clade Ib variant is believed to transmit more readily than the clade II strain that caused an outbreak in the UK in 2022. Mpox spreads through direct physical contact with blisters or scabs, and symptoms typically develop five to 21 days after exposure, including fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen glands, and a rash.
The World Health Organisation warns that very young children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals, particularly those with uncontrolled HIV, face a higher risk of severe complications. In 2024, outbreaks of clade Ib occurred in several African countries, with imported cases reported in Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, and the United States.
The NHS advises calling 111 if symptoms appear within three weeks of travel to central or eastern Africa, or after close contact with an infected person. The UK Health Security Agency confirmed the first UK case of clade Ib on 30 October 2024, with 25 cases reported up to 31 January 2026, most linked to travel to affected regions.
