Employers and staff have been given advice on what they should do as the number of UK cases of monkeypox has continued to rise.
Cases in this country have passed 70 so far this week, with outbreaks also being reported in Europe, the US, Canada, Israel, and Australia.
Debbie Coyne, employment law solicitor at Aaron & Partners, explains what employers should do if a member of staff contracts the disease, as well as covering employers’ and employees’ rights, if this is a similar situation to Covid for business leaders, and whether that 21-day isolation period is legally mandatory.
She also urges employers to review the guidance and undertake a risk assessment, as well as consider what their policy is and communicate it to their staff.
What can employers do if an employee has monkeypox?
Coyne said: "As with the current Covid guidance, the UKHSA [UK Health Security Agency] guidance is not mandatory and therefore anyone who has had contact with a positive case is recommended to follow the guidance but does not legally have to follow the isolation rule.
"However, employers owe a duty to staff to provide a safe working environment and as with any infectious disease, employers should consider the health and safety of their staff and consider their policies with regards to those who have caught it, or have been exposed to it, to avoid entering the premises until the infectious period is over.
"We would strongly recommend that employers review the current guidance on self-isolation and to undertake a risk assessment to assess the threat to the business, especially if there are cases in the local area, or if the workplace requires close contact between staff.
"The risk assessment should also take into account any vulnerable people in the workplace who may be more at risk if they contract monkeypox."
Coyne said that employers should consider what their policy is and communicate this to their staff.
"If a member of staff does contract monkeypox or has been in contact, employers may wish to put in place the same procedures and course of action that they have adopted with Covid and/or introduce a separate and different process for monkeypox, taking into account the outcome of the risk assessment.
"Regardless of whether an employee feels ill, consider if they can work from home and it would be advisable to encourage this for the full 21-day period in line with the government guidance. If they cannot work from home, but have symptoms, they can of course receive contractual or statutory sick pay (if eligible)."
What is Monkeypox?
There have been 71 confirmed cases of Monkeypox in the UK in recent weeks.
Monkeypox is a rare viral infection most common in remote parts of Central and West Africa.
The disease, first found in monkeys, does not tend to spread easily between people, but can be transmitted through close physical contact.
The symptoms are usually mild and most people recover in a few weeks. They include a rash which starts on the face, then spreads to the rest of the body, as well as common flu symptoms like a high temperature and aches.
The UKHSA has set out guidance for those with or who have had direct contact with a confirmed case, advising a 21-day isolation period.
Contacts are also advised not to travel and to avoid contact with immunosuppressed people, pregnant women, and children under 12.
What's being done to stop the spread?
A “small number” of smallpox vaccine shots, effective against monkeypox, have been stockpiled in Scotland, public health officials confirmed earlier this week.
The UK Government has ordered in several thousand doses of the jab that is understood to be about 85% effective against monkeypox.
Dr Nick Phin, director of public health science and medical director at Public Health Scotland (PHS), said a small number of shots of the vaccine, had been sent to Glasgow and Edinburgh.
It follows news that the first confirmed case of the virus was identified in Scotland on Monday.
Dr Phin said: “The UK has stockpiles we can draw from and, in light of the case that we are investigating, we have requested a small stock of vaccine to be based in Edinburgh and in Glasgow so that they are available for Scotland.
“Those are the two places we tend to bring any stockpile simply because they have large populations and are acceptable for most of Scotland.
“We requested a small number of vaccines while we identify a site where we can store a larger number.
“We’ve ordered more than sufficient for the current case and this should give us a buffer should we get any cases in the next day or two.”
Dr Phin emphasised that public health officials are able to obtain vaccines and anti-viral medicines at short notice, should they be needed.
He added: “The service we have with the UKHSA is that we can draw on any vaccine should we need it at 12 hours’ notice.
“In a typical outbreak you may have between 10 and 20 cases. That’s the sort of ballpark figure we’re looking at.”
He also added: “I don’t think this is Covid two, in fact, I’m sure this is not Covid two.
“There are a number of striking differences between this and Covid - we’ve got a longer incubation period - we’ve got an effective vaccine and we’ve got effective medication.
“There is not what we understand to be an asymptomatic phase so in other words, if you’ve got symptoms, that’s when you’re infectious.”
Public Health Scotland were not able to share details about the first case, but confirmed the patient was being treated at an infectious diseases unit and they had not travelled abroad recently.
PHS stressed a common sense approach was needed to keep the virus contained.
Dr Phin said: “What we’re trying to do is early identification and vaccination of contacts. The vaccination will stop people, if it’s given early enough, going on to develop the condition.
“A lot of it is common sense: washing your hands, the usual things; I’m pretty confident we are not dealing with another Covid issue.”
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