UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) reports 14 new cases monkey pox from English on Tuesday (24/5). This figure has increased again even though the number of new cases is not as high as compared to the previous day, which was 36 cases.
As reported by Reuters on Tuesday (24/5), the number of monkeypox patients in the UK has risen to 70 cases since it was first discovered in May.
Meanwhile, Scotland reported the first case of monkeypox on Monday (23/5). However, until now there have been no reports of such cases in Wales and Northern Ireland.
The virus does not usually spread easily between people, but can be transmitted through close person-to-person contact or contact with items used by people with monkeypox, such as clothing, bedding, or eating utensils.
Monkeypox is usually a self-limiting disease and most people recover within a few weeks.
According to Gov.uk, anyone in the UK with an unusual rash or sore on any part of the body, especially the genitals, should contact the NHS or local sexual health services immediately.
UKHSA also emphasizes early detection and increased vigilance in the gay and bisexual community. This was done because most of the cases were detected in gay and bisexual men.
UKHSA Chief Medical Advisor Susan Hopkins said her health protection team was contacting people deemed high-risk contacts of confirmed cases and advising those who had been assessed at risk and remained healthy to isolate at home for up to 21 days.
“The vast majority of recent cases in the UK and Europe have been found in gay and bisexual men, so we particularly encourage these men to be aware of the symptoms.” Hopkins said.
WHO thinks that monkeypox is a gay disease. The world health organization says that this disease is transmitted through close interactions.
In a statement, WHO said that anyone who has close contact with an infectious person may be at risk of developing monkeypox.
“Stigmatizing a group of people because of an illness is never acceptable. It can be a barrier to ending an outbreak because it can prevent people from seeking treatment, and lead to undetected spread.”
(reuters/chri)
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