Characteristics of the first confirmed case of human infection with mpox virus clade Ib in China

Jimin Sun, Lei Zhou, Beibei Wu, Zhongwen Chen, Yedong He, Xiaoxiao Wang, Jun Lu, Dan Li, Li Zhao, Xinhui Guo, Ruiqi Ren, Wenqing Bai, Chao Li, Guoying Zhu, Wei Jiang, Wenqin Zhang, Ying Liu, Haiyan Mao, Yi Sun, Rui Ge, Xuguang Shi, Hangjie Zhang, Jun Han, Jibo He, Yan Li, Qun Li, Jianmin Jiang () and Guoqing Shi ()
Additional contact information
Jimin Sun: Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Lei Zhou: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Beibei Wu: Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Zhongwen Chen: Jiaxing Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Yedong He: Haiyan Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Xiaoxiao Wang: Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Jun Lu: Haiyan People’ Hospital
Dan Li: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Li Zhao: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Xinhui Guo: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Ruiqi Ren: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Wenqing Bai: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Chao Li: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Guoying Zhu: Jiaxing Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Wei Jiang: Haiyan Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Wenqin Zhang: Haiyan People’ Hospital
Ying Liu: Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Haiyan Mao: Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Yi Sun: Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Rui Ge: Jiaxing Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Xuguang Shi: Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Hangjie Zhang: Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Jun Han: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Jibo He: Yunnan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Yan Li: Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Qun Li: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Jianmin Jiang: Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Guoqing Shi: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Mpox clade Ib is significant as it is associated with human cases and plays a key role in understanding the transmission and public health implications of mpox outbreaks. Here we present a case report of the first confirmed human infection of clade Ib in China, which occurred in December 2025 in Zhejiang Province. The case was a 28-year-old woman from South Africa who had sexual contact with an asymptomatic man from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She presented with disseminated vesicular lesions on the extremities, face, buttocks, trunk, palms, and dorsum of the hands, but lesions were absent from the oral cavity, perineum, and anus. By the 18th day post-onset (DPO), only vesicles remained on the dorsum of the right foot and in the finger web spaces, with complete resolution by the 24th DPO. Among 59 consecutive samples collected, 55 tested positive for mpox virus. Oropharyngeal swabs turned negative by the 16th DPO, while skin lesion samples, urine samples, and scab specimens remained positive through the 20th DPO. Consecutive scab samples consistently exhibited high viral loads. In total, 211 contacts of the symptomatic patient were identified, and no secondary cases occurred. This study underscores the importance of multisite sampling for diagnostic sensitivity, highlights the transmission risk associated with asymptomatic sexual contact, and emphasizes the need for refined contact definitions and management strategies. Further research is needed to explore infection risks across different types of exposure.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60217-2

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