Monkeypox case concern

A SUSPECTED case of Monkeypox has been listed locally as the disease continues to spread.

Doctors across England are required to report any suspected cases of the Monkeypox virus, and laboratories must report if it is identified in a laboratory sample. This is after the virus was added to the list of notifiable diseases by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

These are infectious diseases, such as yellow fever, malaria, measles, scarlet fever, whooping cough and more, which have to be reported to local authorities or Health Protection Teams.

A suspected case of the virus was reported in Leicester in the week ending June 5, according to data from the notifications of infectious diseases, a weekly report tracking where suspected infections have been found.

Other possible cases have been identified in Northampton and Wellingborough.

While suspected cases are shown by local authority area, the UKHSA is only breaking confirmed case numbers down into regions. As such, it is not known whether these suspected cases have gone on to be confirmed.

The most recent Government data shows there are three definite cases in the East Midlands. But neither Leicester City Council nor Leicestershire County Council were able to confirm whether these were in their area.

In the week ending June 12, 12 cases were reported in England. That was on top of three cases the week before.

Anyone with symptoms, which can first present as flu-like fevers, chills and muscles aches, with a rash on the face or sometimes genital region appearing later, should ring 111 or their GP.