China today confirmed the first case of the new clade Ib variant of Mpox (monkeypox), which traces back to a foreign national with a history of travel and residence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A statement from China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the cities of Beijing and Tianjin (north) and the provinces of Guangdong (southeast) and Zhejiang (east) have activated a joint prevention and control mechanism for epidemiological screening, finding four more cases in people infected after close contact with foreigners.

"The document indicates that people present symptoms such as skin rashes and shingles, which are relatively mild.

The document also states that those infected are receiving medical treatment and being observed, and guarantees that the epidemic is being "effectively controlled".