A monkeypox case has been confirmed in the UK with the patient receiving treatment in isolation.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed it is believed the person contracted the rare viral infection from Nigeria, which is where they were before coming to the UK.
The patient is currently being cared for at the expert infectious disease unit at the Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London, reports the Mirror.
Monkeypox is usually a mild self-limiting illness and most people recover within a few weeks.
It is an infection which does not spread easily between people, however severe illness can occur in some individuals.
The infection can spread with someone is in close contact with an infected person, but the risk of transmission to the general population is very low, the UKHSA has said.
As a precautionary measure, the UKHSA and NHS are working to contact those who may have been in close contact with the infected individuals.
This includes contacting a number of airline passengers who were in close proximity to the patient on their flight.
Those without symptoms are not considered infectious, but those who were in close contact will be told that if they start to feel unwell they can be treated quickly.
Furthermore, the UKHSA says if passengers are not contacted then there is no action they need to take.
Dr Colin Brown, Director of Clinical and Emerging Infections, UKHSA, said: "It is important to emphasise that monkeypox does not spread easily between people and the overall risk to the general public is very low.
"We are working with NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI) to contact the individuals who have had close contact with the case prior to confirmation of their infection, to assess them as necessary and provide advice.
"UKHSA and the NHS have well established and robust infection control procedures for dealing with cases of imported infectious disease and these will be strictly followed.
Dr Nicholas Price, Director NHSE High Consequence Infection Diseases (airborne) Network and Consultant in Infectious Diseases at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: "The patient is being treated in our specialist isolation unit at St Thomas’ Hospital by expert clinical staff with strict infection prevention procedures.
"This is a good example of the way that the High Consequence Infectious Diseases national network and UKHSA work closely together in responding swiftly and effectively to these sporadic cases."
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