Rare monkey pox from Africa shows up in England

The very rare virus, from which most people recover after a few weeks, was first identified in Britain in 2018. Since then, there have been a few more confirmed cases. It usually occurs in remote areas of Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests.

The patient is being treated in a special ward of a London hospital. The British health authorities emphasize that monkeypox is not easily transmitted between humans and that the risk to the general public is therefore very low.

In monkey pox, one has flu symptoms (fever, chills, headache and muscle aches) and a characteristic skin rash with blisters. The symptoms usually last for several weeks. Most people recover, although there is a small risk of complications resulting in death.

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