MONKEYPOX CASES RISING

The UK is one of several western countries where the virus has spread

MONKEYPOX cases continue to rise across the UK as public health experts urge people with symptoms to avoid sex. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed on Monday (May 30) that there were 179 confirmed cases of the virus, of which the vast majority (172) were in England.

A further four cases had been confirmed in Scotland, two in Northern Ireland and one in Wales.

The incubation period of the virus – the time between contact with the infected person and symptoms appearing – is between five and 21 days.

Early symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion.

Up to five days after a fever appears, a rash develops that often starts on the face then spreads to other parts of the body.

The UKHSA says the risk to the wider public remains low but is asking people to look out for any new rashes, spots, ulcers or blisters on any part of their body.

Anyone with a probable or confirmed case is being asked to avoid contact with other people until their skin lesions have healed and any scabs have dried off.

This includes abstaining from sex while sympomatic, and using condoms for eight weeks after infection as a precaution.

Contacts of someone with monkeypox will also be risk assessed and told to isolate for 21 days if necessary.

Most people who get the disease recover within weeks but some people can become severely ill.

Person-to-person transmission of monkeypox is uncommon but it is possible for someone to get it by touching clothing or linen used by an infected person.

It can also be spread through direct contact with skin lesions and scabs caused by the virus, or by an infected person coughing or sneezing.

Although anyone can get monkeypox, the UKHSA said the majority of the cases identified so far had been between men who are gay, bisexual and who have sex with other men.

Dr Ruth Milton, senior medical advisor at UKHSA, said: “We are continuing to work closely with our colleagues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure we are aligned in our approach to reducing the risk of transmission of monkeypox in the UK.

“We are reminding people to look out for new spots, ulcers or blisters on any part of their body.

“If anyone suspects they might have these, particularly if they have recently had a new sexual partner, they should limit their contact with others and contact NHS 111 or their local sexual health service as soon as possible, though please phone ahead before attending in person. This will help us to limit the virus being passed on.”

The disease, which can be transmitted to humans from infected animals, is usually mild and most who get it recover without treatment.

The UK is one of several countries where monkeypox is not regularly found to report cases in recent weeks.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 23 such nations had reported laboratory confirmed cases by May 26.

The illness is most often found in rural areas of central and west African countries, especially those close to tropical rainforest where people may have contact with infected animals.

There were 1,284 reported cases of monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo between the start of January and May 8, according to the WHO.

Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Nigeria and the Republic of the Congo have also reported cases in recent months.