Monkeypox may be near plateau in UK, experts predict

THERE are early signs the UK outbreak of monkeypox is plateauing, health officials have said, but added that the public must not become “complacent” about the disease.

The UK Health Security Agency said that as of August 4, there had been 2,859 confirmed and highly probable cases of the disease, most transmitted between men who have sex with men, with a median age of 37 for confirmed cases.

Most cases are concentrated in London, with 73 per cent of those affected known to be London residents. Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has called for urgent action to prevent the spread of infection further.

The most recent data suggest that the growth in transmission rates has slowed, but health officials warned

‘We cannot be complacent. Be vigilant and check for symptoms including rashes and blisters’

against complacency and urged people to check themselves for symptoms.

Dr Meera Chand, director of clinical and emerging infections at UKHSA, said that while recent figures suggested the growth of the outbreak has slowed, “we cannot be complacent”.

“Be vigilant of and check yourself for monkeypox symptoms, including rashes and blisters,” she said.

UKHSA added that in the past few weeks, a small number of women had had cases confirmed but there was “not enough evidence currently to suggest sustained transmission outside of interconnected sexual networks”. Just 22 cases have been identified in women.

The disease has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation after it spread to 75 countries in a matter of weeks. In July, a vaccination drive was launched after warnings from campaigners that health authorities did not understand the scale of the action needed.