Nine cases of Monkeypox have been detected in the UK already this month, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
The first UK case, which was confirmed on May 7, was believed to have been contracted in Nigeria. The virus, which comes from the same 'family' as the smallpox, is usually associated with travel to West Africa. But the latest two cases have no travel history, so it is thought they were caught locally 'through community transmission.'
Elsewhere in Europe, Portugal and Spain have reported a number of suspected infections, which can causes a rash accompanied by blisters among other symptoms. On Wednesday (18 May) the United States became the latest nation to confirm a case of the rare virus, contracted by a man who had travelled to Canada.
