Suspected monkeypox in Kent
Three cases of suspected monkeypox have been found in Kent.
A weekly report from the Notifications of Infectious Diseases (NOID) revealed three of the 50 newly identified, but as yet unconfirmed, cases were from the county.
They were reported in Medway, Swale and Shepway – now known as Folkestone and Hythe district, last week.
The first case connected to the current outbreak was recorded in England on May 7.
As of Monday, August 1, there were 2,672 confirmed and 87 highly probable monkeypox cases in the UK, according to government figures.
Last week, the government announced it was procuring more than 100,000 doses of the monkeypox vaccine in order to combat the spread of the virus.
Vaccines minister Maggie Throup said the majority of vaccines were being made available in London, with about 75% of confirmed cases in the capital.
But she urged people to wait to be invited to receive their jabs.
It comes after the World Health Organisation declared a global emergency after outbreaks in 70 countries.
The disease, which was first discovered in monkeys, is usually mild but can cause severe illness in some cases.
Most monkeypox patients experience only fever, body aches, chills and fatigue, but some may develop a rash and lesions on the face and hands that can spread to other parts of the body.
The rash can look like chickenpox or syphilis, and scabs can form which then fall off. Most people recover within a few weeks.
The incubation period of monkeypox is usually from six to 13 days, but can range from five to 21 days.
The most likely route of monkeypox transmission is close physical contact, touching clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with the monkeypox rash, or touching monkeypox skin blisters or scabs.
There is a smaller risk of it being spread through coughs and sneezes.