Suspected cases of monkeypox have been reported in places as far apart as Maidstone, Bromley, Leicester, and Middlesbrough. Since June 8, GPs and other doctors have been required to report any suspected cases of monkeypox they see, and laboratories must also report if the virus is identified in a laboratory sample.
This is because monkeypox was added to the list of notifiable diseases by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). These are infectious diseases, such as measles, scarlet fever, and whooping cough, which have to be reported to local authorities or local Health Protection Teams.
The figures for suspected cases reported locally are much lower than the number of cases confirmed by the UKHSA - meaning there may be more cases in these areas. Numbers may be lower because confirmed cases have not also been reported as suspected cases.
