Monkeypox appears to be spreading from person to person in England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on Wednesday.The most common infectious disease, found in west and central Africa, is thought to be spread through close contact. Until early May, cases rarely came from outside Africa and were linked to travel there.
“The current outbreak is the first time the virus has been transmitted to anyone in England when links to travel to an epidemic have not been identified,” the organization said. According to UKHSA, the majority of cases in the United Kingdom – 132 – are in London, and 111 are known to be gay, lesbian, or bisexual.Only two cases for women.
Recent foreign trips to many different countries in Europe within 21 days of the onset of symptoms have been reported in 34 confirmed cases, or about 18 percent of the 190 cases confirmed by the United Kingdom since May 31. far, UKHSA has identified links to gay bars, saunas and the use of dating apps in Britain and abroad.
“Investigations are ongoing but at this stage not a single case or disclosure has been made to identify the cases,” the organization warned.Monkeypox can affect anyone, but many do not diagnose the GBMSM community – most of whom live in, or have links to, “said Kevin Fenton, London’s regional director of public health. “Like any new outbreak, the risk of discrimination and uncertainty is high,” he said.
UKHSA works with groups including the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV and the dating App Grindr to communicate with sexual health services and the GBMSM community. It also encourages LGBT Consortium and Pride event organizers to help with messaging in the coming weeks.
Monkeypox usually causes symptoms such as colds and ulcers on the skin that often resolve within a few weeks, but can kill a small percentage of those infected. Health authorities in the UK are offering the Bavarian Nordic vaccine, Imvanex, to victims of confirmed or suspected cases.
Monkeypox cases continue to grow outside of Africa, especially in Europe, and scientists are trying to pinpoint the causes of the spread of the disease.On Wednesday, the World Health Organization said it had so far received reports of more than 550 confirmed cases of the disease from 30 countries outside Africa.
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