UK to announce more monkeypox cases as efforts ramp up to contain outbreak

Dr Susan Hopkins said community transmission in the UK was ‘largely centred in urban areas and we are predominantly seeing it in individuals who self-identify as gay or bisexual’. Photograph: Jeff Overs/PA

Public health officials are to announce more UK monkeypox cases on Monday, as efforts ramp up to contain the first multinational outbreak of the virus that has led to cases in at least 14 countries.

The unusual outbreak of the rare disease has sparked a wave of contact tracing and testing, with the closest contacts of confirmed cases – such as partners and people in the same household – offered a vaccine and told to isolate at home for up to 21 days.