The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has urged anyone who is at increased risk of mpox, previously known as monkeypox, to come forward for their vaccinations before the programme comes to an end.
The warning comes amid a recent rise in cases of the rare infection in the UK with a further 10 cases having been recently diagnosed, bringing the number of UK cases as of May 25 from the beginning of the year to 20. All of the new cases were found in London, and half of those infected were unvaccinated, while two had only received one dose of the vaccine.
Five of the cases picked up mpox in the UK, and four are thought to have contracted it while abroad. One remains under investigation, The Mirror reports.
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Mpox can be passed on from person to person through contact with mpox blisters or scars, including during sexual contact or when kissing. It can also be passed on by touching clothing or bedding used by someone with mpox and through coughing and sneezing.
The UKHSA has urged anyone who is eligible for the mpox vaccine and has not yet received both doses to come forward and book their first one by June 16, and their second by the end of July 2023 - before the programme ends. Mpox is caused by a similar virus to smallpox, and the smallpox (MVA) vaccine should give a good level of protection against mpox, according to the NHS.
The NHS is offering the smallpox (MVA) vaccine to people who are most likely to be exposed to mpox, which includes men who are gay, bisexual or have sex with other men, and who have multiple partners, participate in group sex or attend sex-on-premises venues. Those eligible also include healthcare workers caring for patients with confirmed or suspected mpox, or people who have been in close contact with someone who has mpox.
Katy Sinka, Head of Sexually Transmitted Infections at UKHSA, said: "It is clear from these latest statistics that mpox has not gone away. While mpox infection is mild for many, it can cause severe symptoms for some so it's important people remain alert to the risks.
"Vaccination is key to reducing the severity of symptoms and preventing further transmission. Uptake of first doses has been strong but only around a third of those who have received their first dose have had their second dose so far."
She added: "The programme is coming to an end, so we strongly encourage everyone eligible to please come forward for vaccination if you haven’t yet had one or two doses. Our aim is to eliminate this unpleasant disease from the UK entirely – vaccination and community action have worked very well to significantly reduce case numbers and we can't let our guard down now."
Symptoms of mpox include a high temperature, headache, muscle aches, swollen glands, shivering, exhaustion and joint pain, and these first symptoms usually take between five and 21 days to appear after getting infected. A rash usually appears one to five days after the first symptoms, often beginning on the face before spreading to other parts of the body, and you may also experience anal pain or bleeding from your bottom.
If you have any of these three later symptoms and have been in close contact with someone who has or might have had mpox in the past three weeks, have had one or more new sexual partners in the past three weeks, or have been to west or central Africa in the past three weeks, call a sexual health clinic. Stay at home and avoid close contact with other people, including sharing towels or bedding, until you've been told what to do, the NHS advises.
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