NHS ‘overloaded’ by patients fearing their rash is monkeypox

THE NHS 111 service is being overwhelmed by calls from people with a rash who are concerned they may have monkeypox, a health official has said.

Since the outbreak started at the start of May, officials at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have been urging people who may have symptoms, such as a new rash, to either contact the NHS 111 or to get in touch with their nearest sexual health clinic.

But Mateo Prochazka, the head of the UKHSA team investigating the monkeypox cases, said: “Sexual health clinics are not just for gay and bisexual men.”

Speaking during a webinar hosted by Prepster, a group of London-based HIV prevention activists helping raise awarness of monkeypox, he said: “Anyone can be seen in a sexual health clinic regardless of gender, sexual orientation or identity. Everyone is welcome.

“There are other [routes] of trying to get yourself into the system, maybe calling NHS 111, but this resource has been really overloaded with everyone calling who had a rash. We are trying to point people towards sexual health clinics.”

There are 90 known cases of the virus in Britain, with 85 in England, three in Scotland, one in Northern Ireland and one in Wales.

A sexual health professional will ask questions to someone who may be concerned about any symptoms they may have and any recent sexual activity.

If necessary, a person may be asked to go to a clinic for a monkeypox test that involves a swab of the lesions that is then sent off to a lab for PCR analysis.

Officials say the “majority” of cases in Britain are in men who have sex with men and Mr Prochazka said London is a particularly hard-hit area because of the large community of LGBT individuals in the capital.

It comes as the British health authorities updated official guidance to state that pet rodents (gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters etc) of monkeypox cases must be isolated in a secure location, such as a government lab, for three weeks.

This is the human incubation period for the disease and the animal must test negative via PCR before it can be released from quarantine. There are an estimated two million pet rodents in Britain.

Wendi Shepherd, monkeypox incident director ATUKHSA, called the move “a precautionary measure”.

Other pets, such as cats and dogs, are believed to be less susceptible to monkeypox and can be isolated away from an infected person at home, as long as vets can access the animal safely.

NHS England was contacted for comment.