A man who caught monkeypox has revealed how it left him feeling like a “walking zombie” after nearly collapsing on the street. Wesley Williams, 34, became sick one day after visiting a sauna whilst on a trip to London but initially thought it was just tiredness.
He broke out in spots and blotches 30 minutes into his shift as a waiter at a shopping centre restaurant, before struggling to stand up while serving customers.
Wesley said: “I was completely shattered. I was so knackered I couldn’t stand up properly. I was a walking zombie and I really could not move. I had to sit down to take food orders.”
He was sent home to get tested immediately after jokingly suggesting to his manager that he had monkeypox, according to Liverpool Echo.
Wesley continued: “I thought I was just tired from London so I didn’t say anything straight away. It was my first day back from the trip and within the first hour, I literally nearly collapsed outside. The day after I wasn’t tired at all. I was feeling fine but I had started to see some spots appearing around my body.
“I didn’t think anything of it. I joked in work and said ‘maybe I’ve got monkeypox’ but my manager sent me home to get tested straight away.”
He tested positive for monkeypox, which he believes he caught at the sauna, after having swabs taken of his spots in Chester. For one week, Wesley’s body was covered in small lumps and could only eat soup because he had strep throat.
The lumps turned into rashes with blisters by the second week, spreading across his chest and thighs before starting to heal after 16 days. Wesley self-isolated for three weeks and was not provided any medication.
He said: “Monkeypox drained me more than covid. When I had covid it felt like the sniffly flu to me.”
His comments come after figures by the UK Health Safety Authority confirmed there were 1,856 confirmed cases in the UK with 1,778 in England, as of July 14. The vast majority (1,313) were residents in London, with 99.4% males.
Meanwhile, calls are being made for an increase in the number of vaccinations to protect against the disease. The Mail on Sunday reported 50,000 doses are on order, but more will be needed.
Dr Deborah Birx, the former head of the US covid task force, told the publication all gay men under 50 in London need to be protected. She added: “If you’re at a gay bar and you’re dancing, then there is a risk of infection.”
Dr Meera Chand, director of clinical and emerging infections at UKHSA, earlier said: “While anyone can catch monkeypox, the majority of monkeypox cases in the UK continue to be in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM), with the infection being passed on mainly through close contact between people in interconnected sexual networks.
“Before you go to a party or event, check yourself for monkeypox symptoms, including rashes and blisters. If you have monkeypox symptoms, take a break from attending events or sex until you’ve called 111 or a sexual health service and been assessed by a clinician.
“It can take up to three weeks for symptoms to appear after being in contact with someone with monkeypox, so stay alert for symptoms after you have skin to skin or sexual contact with someone new.”
No deaths from monkeypox have been reported in the UK since the outbreak began earlier this year. The UKHSA said the NHS will soon set out details on vaccinations for those eligible. People are asked to not come forward until that time.
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