The Public Health Agency (PHA) in Northern Ireland has reported 21 cases of mpox detected within the last three weeks, a substantial rise compared to the nine cases recorded since the beginning of 2023.
Dr. Rachel Coyle, a consultant in health protection at the PHA, noted the rapid increase in diagnoses. "Over the last three weeks we've had 21 cases of mpox diagnosed in Northern Ireland," she stated. "To put that into context, through the rest of 2026 up 'til now we haven't had any cases of mpox diagnosed, so it does represent a quite a quick increase in the number of cases being diagnosed here."
The recent cases are predominantly identified among men who have sex with men. In response to the uptick, the PHA is actively encouraging eligible individuals to get vaccinated, advising them to contact their local sexual health clinic to take up the offer.