People with monkeypox will be advised to stay away from animals due to concerns about the virus spreading into nature.
The latest figures from health officials show how seven more cases of the virus have been identified in England. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the new cases bring the UK total since May 7 to 78. As of May 24, 77 of the cases were identified in England and one case was reported in Scotland.
The Daily Mail reports how the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs will issue advice later this week and warn of a potential risk of human-to-animal transmission.
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Justine Shotton, president of the British Veterinary Association, backed the advice of people taking care with their pets. She told the Daily Mail: "It would be a sensible decision to keep your distance from a pet while in quarantine. If I was diagnosed with monkeypox I would do whatever I could to limit contact, such as asking a friend or relative to take care of it. There is currently no evidence of transmission between humans and cats and dogs but we know rabbits and rodents are susceptible."
The European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) previously stated that the virus has the potential to spread to pets and then into nature. The Daily Record reported how the ECDC said it is important to: "manage exposed pets and prevent the disease from being transmitted to wildlife". They warned that rodents could be effective hosts for the disease, and could spread the virus more effectively than humans.
The announcement said: "If human-to-animal transmission occurs, and the virus spreads in an animal population, there is a risk that the disease could become endemic in Europe. Rodents, and particularly species of the family of Sciuridae (squirrels) are likely to be suitable hosts, more so than humans, and transmission from humans to (pet) animals is theoretically possible.
"Such a spill-over event could potentially lead to the virus establishing in European wildlife and the disease becoming an endemic zoonosis. The probability of this spill-over event is very low."
Prof David Robertson, of the Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, told the Telegraph that the virus spreading to animals is a "valid concern". He said: "It would seem sensible to monitor any animals/pets that infected people are in contact with."
Monkeypox is typically spread between people through physical contact. It can also spread through contaminated foods, coughing or sneezing, and also contaminated animals.
People with unusual rashes or lesions, particularly if they have had a new sexual partner, have been urged to contact NHS 111 or their local sexual health clinic. Health officials have stressed that people should phone ahead before attending in person.
Chronicle Live previously reported how some of those infected were being cared for in specialist infectious disease units at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle, the Royal Free Hospital or Guy's and St Thomas’ Hospital, both in London.
The UK Health Security Agency has called the spread "significant and concerning", but have added that "risk to the UK population remains low".
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