Monkeypox cases spread in UK as 'four more infections found' in scramble to find patients

FOUR more cases of monkeypox have reportedly been found in the UK amid the scramble to track down patients.

None of the new infections are thought to have links with travel to Africa, the MailOnline reports.

These extra infections take the total number to seven, with the first case reported over a week ago.

The rare disease is spread by wild animals in parts of west or central Africa.

It is expected these cases – which would take the UK to seeing 12 monkeypox infections ever – will be confirmed later today.

It comes after the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed a case had been found in Britain on May 7, with another two confirmed over the weekend.

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The original patient travelled from Nigeria and was being treated at St Thomas's Hospital in London.

People who might have been in close contact with these cases are now being hunted down by doctors and given information and health advice to prepare themselves, the UKHSA said.

It is understood a further four have now been found, two of whom are known to each other.

UKHSA was working with the NHS to contact anyone who might have been in close contact to the first infected person.

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That included passengers who travelled "in close proximity" on their flight to the UK.

The disease is extremely rare and is not easily spread between people.

However, it can be transmitted through contact with clothing or linens – including bedding – used by an infected patient.

In 2018, more than 50 people were warned they may have been exposed to the disease.

An NHS nurse caught the virus while changing the bedsheets of a patient in hospital, blaming "pathetically small" protective gloves.

Direct contact with with monkeypox scabs or a person with a rash coughing or sneezing can spread the virus.

Symptoms include fever, a headache, chills, exhaustion, aches and swollen lymph nodes.

A rash usually spreads from the face across the body around five days after a fever appears before forming a scab.

The symptoms are usually mild and most people recover within a few weeks after receiving treatment in a specialist hospital.

It has a mortality rate of between one and 10 per cent, with most deaths occurring in younger age groups.

Dr Colin Brown, Director of Clinical and Emerging Infections, UKHSA, said: "It is important to emphasise that monkeypox does not spread easily between people and the overall risk to the general public is very low.

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"We are working with NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI) to contact the individuals who have had close contact with the case prior to confirmation of their infection, to assess them as necessary and provide advice.

"UKHSA and the NHS have well established and robust infection control procedures for dealing with cases of imported infectious disease and these will be strictly followed."


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