Thirty-six new cases of monkeypox have been reported in the UK, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 56, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) chief medical officer Susan Hopkins.
In a statement, the UKHSA recommends contact cases to self-isolate for a period of 21 days, noting however that the risk to the population remains “low”. Although there is no vaccine against monkeypox, which is usually curable on its own, a smallpox vaccine can be used to protect contact cases, the same source notes, noting that doses of vaccines were sent to Scotland, where a first case was identified.
The disease can be transmitted by close contact with an infected person or contact with objects they have used, such as clothing, bedding or utensils, according to the UKHSA. In addition to the United Kingdom, several Western countries including France, Germany, the United States, Spain and Sweden have identified cases. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills and fatigue. Rashes can occur, go through different phases before crusting over and falling off.
Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe, Hans Kluge, warned that the spread of monkeypox is likely to accelerate in the region over the holidays. and festivals in the summer months.