DOWNING Street has said the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is monitoring monkeypox “extremely carefully” after the first case was recorded in Scotland on Monday.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said monkeypox was a rare disease but it was important to “keep an eye on it” following a spate of cases across the UK.
Johnson told reporters on a visit to a school in south-east London: “It’s basically very rare disease, and so far the consequences don’t seem to be very serious but it’s important that we keep an eye on it and that’s exactly what the new UK Health Security Agency is doing.”
Asked whether there should be quarantine for visitors or the use of the smallpox vaccine, Johnson said: “As things stand the judgment is that it’s rare.
“I think we’re looking very carefully at the circumstances of transmission.
“It hasn’t yet proved, fatal in any case that we know of, certainly not in this country.”
So how is monkeypox transmitted?
Close contact is the key to monkeypox transmission – unlike Covid, which is airborne.
Monkeypox is not normally a sexually transmitted infection, but it can be passed on by direct contact during sex.
It can also be spread through touching clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with the monkeypox rash, and through the coughs and sneezes of somebody with the infection.
Should I be concerned?
As of Friday, there were20 cases in the UK. More are expected to be confirmed soon.
Because the virus spreads through close contact the UKHSA is advising people, particularly those who are gay, bisexual or who have sex with men, to be alert to any unusual rashes or lesions on any part of their body.
Anyone who is worried is advised to contact sexual health services and to call ahead for an appointment, or to call 111.
The UKHSA said the virus does not usually spread easily between people and the risk to the UK population overall remains low.
The smallpox vaccine, which has effectiveness against monkeypox, is being offered to some people who have had close contact with affected individuals.
