Health Chief: Abstain From Sex

Another 71 cases of monkeypox have been spotted among Britons, as health chiefs urge anyone who develops a new rash to abstain from sex.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the new patients are all based in England. It brings the UK total to 179 since the first was detected on May 6, with the figure soaring 69 per cent since Friday — the biggest jump yet.

Almost all of the infections have been logged in England, apart from four logged in Scotland, two in Northern Ireland and one in Wales.

UK health chiefs insist the risk to the public remains low. But they have urged everyone to be on the lookout for new rashes or lesions on any part of their body — which appear like spots, ulcers or blisters.

The UKHSA has not shared the age, region or gender of those infected with monkeypox. But the majority are men who have sex with men, so it has told these groups to be particularly aware of the virus’s tell-tale signs.

UK health chiefs today published guidelines on how to limit the spread of monkeypox, including advising infected people to abstain from sex until their symptoms are gone and to use condoms for two months after their infection.

It comes as the World Health Organisation today upgraded the threat from the virus to ‘moderate’.

The WHO said the explosion of cases with no links to each other or Africa means the current figure is ‘likely to be an underestimate’.

It has warned that if infections continue to happen then vulnerable people and children — who are more likely to die from the virus — could start to catch it.

So far the outbreak, which was first detected in early May, has spread to 24 countries, with the UK, Spain and Portugal logging the most infections.

Dr Ruth Milton, senior medical advisor at UKHSA, said: ‘We are continuing to work closely with our colleagues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure we are aligned in our approach to reducing the risk of transmission of Monkeypox in the UK.

‘We are reminding people to look out for new spots, ulcers or blisters on any part of their body.

‘If anyone suspects they might have these, particularly if they have recently had a new sexual partner, they should limit their contact with others and contact NHS 111 or their local sexual health service as soon as possible, though please phone ahead before attending in person.

‘This will help us to limit the virus being passed on.’

Teams from the UK Health Security Agency are contacting high-risk contacts of confirmed cases and advising them to self-isolate at home for three weeks and avoid contact with children.

Both confirmed cases and close contacts are being offered the Imvanex vaccine to form a buffer of immune people around a confirmed case to limit the spread of the disease.

The strategy, known as ring vaccination, has been used in previous monkeypox outbreaks and is also being carried out in some EU countries.

It comes after the WHO published a risk assessment on Sunday, warning that its ‘moderate’ grading of the outbreak could be pushed to ‘high’ if the virus ‘exploits the opportunity to establish itself as a human pathogen’ and spreads to vulnerable groups.

Source: DailyMail