UK Monkeypox cases hit 2,000 as government stockpiles vaccines to combat outbreak
MONKEYPOX cases have now tipped 2,000, with a 15 per cent increase over three days. The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) have secured another 100,000 vaccine doses to try and control the outbreak. Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Monkeypox is a rare and usually mild disease that does not spread easily […]
MONKEYPOX cases have now tipped 2,000, with a 15 per cent increase over three days.
The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) have secured another 100,000 vaccine doses to try and control the outbreak.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Monkeypox is a rare and usually mild disease that does not spread easily between people.
“But we are taking action to help further manage the outbreak in the UK by procuring over 100,000 additional doses of vaccine.
“The NHS is already contacting those eligible for the vaccine, and I would urge people to take up the offer as soon as they are contacted.
“In the meantime, please contact a sexual health clinic if you notice any unusual rashes or lesions.”
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The virus is mild and typically causes flu-like symptoms, including a high temperature, headache and muscle aches, followed by a rash that starts on the face.
The rash looks like chickenpox until blisters form.
The virus has now been confirmed in 2,137 people as of July 18, after the bizarre outbreak started at the end of May.
Most cases are in England (2,050), particularly London (1,492).
Monkeypox has caused outbreaks in Africa for decades, but the recent explosion of cases outside of the continent has baffled experts.
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While anyone can get monkeypox, the majority of cases in the UK continue to be in gay and bisexual men.
Vaccines are being given to people deemed the most at-risk of monkeypox – such as a person living with a patient.
Gay and bisexual men are also being offered a vaccine in some cases if they attend sex parties or have multiple partners.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Head of Immunisation at UKHSA, said: “Although most cases of monkeypox in the current outbreak are mild, severe illness can occur in some people, so it is important we use the available vaccine to reach groups where transmission is occurring.”
Dr Merav Kliner, Deputy Incident Director at UKHSA, said: “We have now passed over 2,000 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the UK, and the outbreak continues to grow.
“Based on the growing evidence of how the monkeypox virus is being passed on in this outbreak, close contacts will no longer have to isolate for 21 days unless they develop symptoms.
“While our advice on isolation is changing, monkeypox is still a serious public health challenge, and we urge contacts to take a break from any activities or events involving skin to skin contact.”
Sex, hugging and kissing can all spread monkeypox from one person to another.
Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease.
But it can be caught from touching the scabs of someone with the bug, touching their bed sheets or breathing in their respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing or kissing.
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It comes after the UKHSA warned that monkeypox patients should use condoms for 12 weeks after they’ve had the bug.
The agency said there is a “body of evidence” showing monkeypox is present in the semen of people infected.