nivek
As Above So Below
This was from last month...
Two Monkeypox cases discovered in UK
While COVID-19 continues to run amok in the United Kingdom, fueled by the new Indian variant, there’s a new threat facing the British: Monkeypox.
Two confirmed cases of the extremely communicable West African disease have now been confirmed in the United Kingdom.
It was thought to have been introduced in May by a man who “had lived and worked in Delta State, Nigeria,” the World Health Organization (WHO) states.
The man arrived in the UK and quarantined with family and on May 10, “the patient developed a rash, beginning on the face. The patient remained in self-isolation for a further 10 days and sought medical care for relief of symptoms. The patient was admitted to a referral hospital on 23 May.”
By then the man had infected a family member “who [also] developed lesions … Both patients are stable and recovering,” according to the WHO report.
(More on the link)
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Two Monkeypox cases discovered in UK
While COVID-19 continues to run amok in the United Kingdom, fueled by the new Indian variant, there’s a new threat facing the British: Monkeypox.
Two confirmed cases of the extremely communicable West African disease have now been confirmed in the United Kingdom.
It was thought to have been introduced in May by a man who “had lived and worked in Delta State, Nigeria,” the World Health Organization (WHO) states.
The man arrived in the UK and quarantined with family and on May 10, “the patient developed a rash, beginning on the face. The patient remained in self-isolation for a further 10 days and sought medical care for relief of symptoms. The patient was admitted to a referral hospital on 23 May.”
By then the man had infected a family member “who [also] developed lesions … Both patients are stable and recovering,” according to the WHO report.
(More on the link)
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nivek
As Above So Below
WHO traces recent Monkeypox outbreak in UK to Delta State
The World Health Organisation (WHO), yesterday, confirmed that the recent Monkeypox outbreak in United Kingdom and Northern Ireland originated from Delta State, Nigeria.
The apex United Nations health agency, in a statement, said: “On May 25, 2021, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland notified the WHO of one laboratory-confirmed case of monkeypox. The patient arrived in the United Kingdom on May 8, 2021. Prior to travel, the patient had lived and worked in Delta State, Nigeria.
“On arrival in the United Kingdom, the patient remained in quarantine with family due to COVID-19 restrictions. On May 10, the patient developed a rash, beginning on the face. The patient remained in self-isolation for a further ten days and sought medical care for relief of symptoms. The patient was admitted to a referral hospital on May 23. Skin lesion samples were received at the Public Health England Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory on May 24. The West African clade of monkeypox virus was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on 25 May.
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The World Health Organisation (WHO), yesterday, confirmed that the recent Monkeypox outbreak in United Kingdom and Northern Ireland originated from Delta State, Nigeria.
The apex United Nations health agency, in a statement, said: “On May 25, 2021, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland notified the WHO of one laboratory-confirmed case of monkeypox. The patient arrived in the United Kingdom on May 8, 2021. Prior to travel, the patient had lived and worked in Delta State, Nigeria.
“On arrival in the United Kingdom, the patient remained in quarantine with family due to COVID-19 restrictions. On May 10, the patient developed a rash, beginning on the face. The patient remained in self-isolation for a further ten days and sought medical care for relief of symptoms. The patient was admitted to a referral hospital on May 23. Skin lesion samples were received at the Public Health England Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory on May 24. The West African clade of monkeypox virus was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on 25 May.
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nivek
As Above So Below
Here's more details on the person in Texas who has this infection...
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Dallas resident who recently returned from Africa infected with the monkeypox virus
A Dallas resident who recently returned from Africa was infected with the monkeypox virus, the city said Friday. This is believed to be the first monkeypox infection in a Texas resident, officials said.
The patient is being treated at a hospital and is stable, officials said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dallas County Health and Human Services and the Texas Department of State Health Services are guiding the investigation and tracing the few possible contacts of the patient.
The rare virus causes fever, rash and other flu-like symptoms and is not easy to transmit from one person to another.
Health authorities believe the risk to the public is very low, but encouraged people to follow basic infection prevention measures, such as washing hands regularly and staying home when sick.
Because of the patient’s recent travel history, Dallas Love Field officials are working with public health officials.
“We have been in close contact with Dallas County Health and Human Services, the city’s contracted public health authority, regarding the single case of travel-related monkeypox in Dallas,” Mayor Eric Johnson wrote in a statement. “We have confidence in the federal, state, and local medical professionals who are working to ensure that this virus is contained and that the patient is treated with the utmost care. The City of Dallas stands ready to assist their efforts in any way necessary.”
The patient traveled from Nigeria to Dallas and arrived at Love Field airport on July 9, Dallas County HHS said in a news release.
Travelers were required to wear masks on the flights as well as in U.S. airports due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, according to the release. “Therefore, it’s believed the risk of spread of monkeypox via respiratory droplets to others on the planes and in the airports is low,” Dallas County HHS said. “CDC is assessing potential risks to those who may have had contact with the traveler on the plane or in the airports.“
The individual has been isolated at the hospital to prevent the spread of the virus, according to HHS, and people who don’t have symptoms aren’t capable of spreading the virus to others.
The first human case of monkeypox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the CDC. The U.S. experienced an outbreak of monkeypox in 2003 with 47 reported human cases.
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...
Dallas resident who recently returned from Africa infected with the monkeypox virus
A Dallas resident who recently returned from Africa was infected with the monkeypox virus, the city said Friday. This is believed to be the first monkeypox infection in a Texas resident, officials said.
The patient is being treated at a hospital and is stable, officials said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dallas County Health and Human Services and the Texas Department of State Health Services are guiding the investigation and tracing the few possible contacts of the patient.
The rare virus causes fever, rash and other flu-like symptoms and is not easy to transmit from one person to another.
Health authorities believe the risk to the public is very low, but encouraged people to follow basic infection prevention measures, such as washing hands regularly and staying home when sick.
Because of the patient’s recent travel history, Dallas Love Field officials are working with public health officials.
“We have been in close contact with Dallas County Health and Human Services, the city’s contracted public health authority, regarding the single case of travel-related monkeypox in Dallas,” Mayor Eric Johnson wrote in a statement. “We have confidence in the federal, state, and local medical professionals who are working to ensure that this virus is contained and that the patient is treated with the utmost care. The City of Dallas stands ready to assist their efforts in any way necessary.”
The patient traveled from Nigeria to Dallas and arrived at Love Field airport on July 9, Dallas County HHS said in a news release.
Travelers were required to wear masks on the flights as well as in U.S. airports due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, according to the release. “Therefore, it’s believed the risk of spread of monkeypox via respiratory droplets to others on the planes and in the airports is low,” Dallas County HHS said. “CDC is assessing potential risks to those who may have had contact with the traveler on the plane or in the airports.“
The individual has been isolated at the hospital to prevent the spread of the virus, according to HHS, and people who don’t have symptoms aren’t capable of spreading the virus to others.
The first human case of monkeypox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the CDC. The U.S. experienced an outbreak of monkeypox in 2003 with 47 reported human cases.
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nivek
As Above So Below
China reports first human death from Monkey B Virus. All you need to know
China has reported its first human infection with Monkey B Virus (BV) and subsequent death. A Beijing-based veterinary surgeon was infected with the virus after he dissected two dead monkeys in early March, according to China CDC Weekly.
The 53-year-old veterinarian started experiencing nausea and vomiting and a month later, fever and neurological symptoms followed. He visited several hospitals but eventually died on May 27, China CDC Weekly revealed Saturday.
Around mid-April, researchers collected cerebrospinal fluid from the patient for next-generation sequencing and the readings suggested possible alphaherpesvirus infection. They also collected several specimens including blister fluid, blood, nasal swab, throat swab, and plasma to further identify the etiological agent.
The samples were sent to the National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention (IVDC) of China CDC. The IVDC conducted four sets of RT-PCR to detect BV, varicella-zoster virus (VZV), monkeypox virus and orthopoxvirus, however, the sample tested positive only for BV.
All close contacts of the patient are reported to have tested negative for the virus and are safe from it, for now, reported Global Times. Citing the first human fatality from Monkey BV, China CDC Weekly said that the virus might pose a zoonotic threat to primate veterinarians, animal care personnel, or laboratory researchers.
The journal stressed the need to eliminate the virus during the development of “specific pathogen-free rhesus colonies” and to strengthen surveillance in laboratory macaques and occupational workers in China.
Here’s all you need to know about Monkey BV:
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China has reported its first human infection with Monkey B Virus (BV) and subsequent death. A Beijing-based veterinary surgeon was infected with the virus after he dissected two dead monkeys in early March, according to China CDC Weekly.
The 53-year-old veterinarian started experiencing nausea and vomiting and a month later, fever and neurological symptoms followed. He visited several hospitals but eventually died on May 27, China CDC Weekly revealed Saturday.
Around mid-April, researchers collected cerebrospinal fluid from the patient for next-generation sequencing and the readings suggested possible alphaherpesvirus infection. They also collected several specimens including blister fluid, blood, nasal swab, throat swab, and plasma to further identify the etiological agent.
The samples were sent to the National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention (IVDC) of China CDC. The IVDC conducted four sets of RT-PCR to detect BV, varicella-zoster virus (VZV), monkeypox virus and orthopoxvirus, however, the sample tested positive only for BV.
All close contacts of the patient are reported to have tested negative for the virus and are safe from it, for now, reported Global Times. Citing the first human fatality from Monkey BV, China CDC Weekly said that the virus might pose a zoonotic threat to primate veterinarians, animal care personnel, or laboratory researchers.
The journal stressed the need to eliminate the virus during the development of “specific pathogen-free rhesus colonies” and to strengthen surveillance in laboratory macaques and occupational workers in China.
Here’s all you need to know about Monkey BV:
- Monkey BV, an alphaherpesvirus enzootic in macaques, was initially isolated in 1932.
- According to China CDC Weekly, the virus is generally transmitted via direct contact and exchange of bodily fluid secretions.
- While BV is not evident in its natural macaque hosts, about 60 cases of pathogenic zoonotic BV infection have occurred, with the fatality rate around 70%–80%, the journal said.
- According to a report published in the US National Library of Medicine, BV has a propensity to invade the central nervous system when transmitted to humans.
- The 2008 report said that the development and maintenance of true BV specific pathogen-free macaque colonies, as suggested by China CDC Weekly, has proven difficult.
- The initial symptoms usually develop around 1-3 weeks after exposure to the virus.
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August
Metanoia
So do they have a vaccine for the Monkeypox ?
AD1184
Celestial
The smallpox vaccine apparently works on monkeypox.
nivek
As Above So Below
Monkeypox in US: CDC monitoring 200 people in 27 states, other countries
While the delta variant and other issues have the coronavirus gaining renewed attention, U.S. health officials are also watching for signs of a possible outbreak of monkeypox, according to a report.
Following an initial report of a patient being treated for monkeypox in Texas after arriving there from Nigeria earlier this month, officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are now monitoring more than 200 individuals who may have had contact with the traveler, WVLA-TV of Baton Rouge, Louisiana reported.
The individuals being observed are spread across 27 states and several foreign countries, the report said. They range from associates of the patient to fellow passengers on flights.
None of the people being tracked are considered at high risk and none have been found to have monkeypox, the report said.
Prior to landing in Dallas on July 9, where the patient was later hospitalized, the traveler made a stop in Atlanta, according to the report.
At the moment, there are no safe treatments available for monkeypox, according to the CDC.
Symptoms of the illness include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, or a skin rash that develops days after a fever, WVLA reported.
Monkeypox was first detected in humans in Africa in 1970, according to the CDC website. It was last detected in the U.S. in 2003, when 47 cases were found, the agency says.
The illness can be fatal in 1% to 10% of cases, with those having already weak immune systems at highest risk, according to the CDC.
More CDC information about monkeypox can be found here.
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While the delta variant and other issues have the coronavirus gaining renewed attention, U.S. health officials are also watching for signs of a possible outbreak of monkeypox, according to a report.
Following an initial report of a patient being treated for monkeypox in Texas after arriving there from Nigeria earlier this month, officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are now monitoring more than 200 individuals who may have had contact with the traveler, WVLA-TV of Baton Rouge, Louisiana reported.
The individuals being observed are spread across 27 states and several foreign countries, the report said. They range from associates of the patient to fellow passengers on flights.
None of the people being tracked are considered at high risk and none have been found to have monkeypox, the report said.
Prior to landing in Dallas on July 9, where the patient was later hospitalized, the traveler made a stop in Atlanta, according to the report.
At the moment, there are no safe treatments available for monkeypox, according to the CDC.
Symptoms of the illness include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, or a skin rash that develops days after a fever, WVLA reported.
Monkeypox was first detected in humans in Africa in 1970, according to the CDC website. It was last detected in the U.S. in 2003, when 47 cases were found, the agency says.
The illness can be fatal in 1% to 10% of cases, with those having already weak immune systems at highest risk, according to the CDC.
More CDC information about monkeypox can be found here.
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nivek
As Above So Below
A second American has come down with monkeypox, a rare virus that causes pus-filled boils
There is a second case of monkeypox in the US after a traveler returned from visiting Nigeria, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed. The patient is currently in isolation in Maryland, the CDC wrote in a statement Wednesday. The agency is working to contact any passengers who may have been exposed to the patient on the plane, although mandated mask-wearing likely protected them from significant risk.
This is the second case of monkeypox identified in the US this year. A man was hospitalized with the illness in June after returning to Dallas from Nigeria. Monkeypox is a rare virus similar to smallpox, but milder. It's typically spotted in Central and West Africa, but infections have been identified on other continents six times before.
Most recently, three cases of monkeypox were reported in the UK during summer 2021. Like the cases in the US, the first infection originated in Nigeria, but other Brits were infected via close contact.
The virus can spread via respiratory droplets, similar to the coronavirus. But it's also contagious to anyone who touches the "pox" (lesions) or the fluids within them. The CDC has instructed healthcare providers in the US to be vigilant if they see any patients with poxvirus-like lesions.
Early symptoms of the monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion, and swollen lymph nodes. While the initial illness could be confused with the flu or COVID-19, the telltale, pimply rash typically appears within three days.
The illness can last two to four weeks, according to the CDC. Monkeypox is fatal for as many as 1 in 10 people who get sick in Africa. There's no proven treatment for it, but the smallpox vaccine and some antivirals can help control outbreaks.
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There is a second case of monkeypox in the US after a traveler returned from visiting Nigeria, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed. The patient is currently in isolation in Maryland, the CDC wrote in a statement Wednesday. The agency is working to contact any passengers who may have been exposed to the patient on the plane, although mandated mask-wearing likely protected them from significant risk.
This is the second case of monkeypox identified in the US this year. A man was hospitalized with the illness in June after returning to Dallas from Nigeria. Monkeypox is a rare virus similar to smallpox, but milder. It's typically spotted in Central and West Africa, but infections have been identified on other continents six times before.
Most recently, three cases of monkeypox were reported in the UK during summer 2021. Like the cases in the US, the first infection originated in Nigeria, but other Brits were infected via close contact.
The virus can spread via respiratory droplets, similar to the coronavirus. But it's also contagious to anyone who touches the "pox" (lesions) or the fluids within them. The CDC has instructed healthcare providers in the US to be vigilant if they see any patients with poxvirus-like lesions.
Early symptoms of the monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion, and swollen lymph nodes. While the initial illness could be confused with the flu or COVID-19, the telltale, pimply rash typically appears within three days.
The illness can last two to four weeks, according to the CDC. Monkeypox is fatal for as many as 1 in 10 people who get sick in Africa. There's no proven treatment for it, but the smallpox vaccine and some antivirals can help control outbreaks.
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nivek
As Above So Below
Why would she do that?...
Driver who stopped to help when truck carrying 100 lab monkeys crashed in Pennsylvania and put her hand in one of the cages says she now has a cough and pink eye: CDC urges anyone in contact with the macaques to seek medical attention
A truck carrying around 100 monkeys that crashed in Pennsylvania is now sparking fears of infection after a woman who came into contact with the primates began to feel unwell.
Michelle Fallon, from Danville near Scranton, was driving directly behind the vehicle when it crashed, throwing animal crates all over the highway and smashing some to pieces.
Four of the 100 animals escaped and were seen sitting among the wreckage before they fled.
Police say they have now all been accounted for, with three known to have been euthanised.
Fallon said she got out to help both the driver and the animals in their cages, initially believing them to be cats. When she approached and put her hand on the cage, she says the monkey hissed at her.
The day following the accident, Fallon suddenly developed a cough and pink-eye, which became so bad that she had to visit the emergency room at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.
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Driver who stopped to help when truck carrying 100 lab monkeys crashed in Pennsylvania and put her hand in one of the cages says she now has a cough and pink eye: CDC urges anyone in contact with the macaques to seek medical attention
A truck carrying around 100 monkeys that crashed in Pennsylvania is now sparking fears of infection after a woman who came into contact with the primates began to feel unwell.
Michelle Fallon, from Danville near Scranton, was driving directly behind the vehicle when it crashed, throwing animal crates all over the highway and smashing some to pieces.
Four of the 100 animals escaped and were seen sitting among the wreckage before they fled.
Police say they have now all been accounted for, with three known to have been euthanised.
Fallon said she got out to help both the driver and the animals in their cages, initially believing them to be cats. When she approached and put her hand on the cage, she says the monkey hissed at her.
The day following the accident, Fallon suddenly developed a cough and pink-eye, which became so bad that she had to visit the emergency room at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.
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wwkirk
Divine
Well, people sometimes climb into animal enclosures at zoos, so...Why would she do that?...
Driver who stopped to help when truck carrying 100 lab monkeys crashed in Pennsylvania and put her hand in one of the cages says she now has a cough and pink eye: CDC urges anyone in contact with the macaques to seek medical attention
A truck carrying around 100 monkeys that crashed in Pennsylvania is now sparking fears of infection after a woman who came into contact with the primates began to feel unwell.
Michelle Fallon, from Danville near Scranton, was driving directly behind the vehicle when it crashed, throwing animal crates all over the highway and smashing some to pieces.
Four of the 100 animals escaped and were seen sitting among the wreckage before they fled.
Police say they have now all been accounted for, with three known to have been euthanised.
Fallon said she got out to help both the driver and the animals in their cages, initially believing them to be cats. When she approached and put her hand on the cage, she says the monkey hissed at her.
The day following the accident, Fallon suddenly developed a cough and pink-eye, which became so bad that she had to visit the emergency room at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.
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nivek
As Above So Below
Monkeypox case confirmed in England
A person in England has been diagnosed with the monkeypox virus, the UK Health Security Agency has said.
The patient had recently travelled to Nigeria, where they are believed to have caught the virus before coming to the UK, the health agency said. They are now being treated at an expert infectious disease unit at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS trust in London.
Monkeypox is a rare viral infection from which most people recover in a few weeks, according to the NHS. The UKHSA said monkeypox does not spread easily between people and the risk to the wider public was very low.
In an update published on Saturday, the health agency said: "As a precautionary measure, UKHSA experts are working closely with NHS colleagues and will be contacting people who might have been in close contact with the individual to provide information and health advice."
The first-ever recorded occurrence of the virus in the UK was in 2018, and since then a handful of cases have been confirmed by health authorities
Initial symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion, the UKHSA said. A rash can develop, often beginning on the face, then spreading to other parts of the body. The rash changes and goes through different stages before finally forming a scab, which later falls off.
It can be spread when someone is in close contact with an infected person. The virus can enter the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract or through the eyes, nose or mouth. It can also be spread by contact with infected animals such as monkeys, rats and squirrels, or by virus-contaminated objects, such as bedding and clothing.
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A person in England has been diagnosed with the monkeypox virus, the UK Health Security Agency has said.
The patient had recently travelled to Nigeria, where they are believed to have caught the virus before coming to the UK, the health agency said. They are now being treated at an expert infectious disease unit at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS trust in London.
Monkeypox is a rare viral infection from which most people recover in a few weeks, according to the NHS. The UKHSA said monkeypox does not spread easily between people and the risk to the wider public was very low.
In an update published on Saturday, the health agency said: "As a precautionary measure, UKHSA experts are working closely with NHS colleagues and will be contacting people who might have been in close contact with the individual to provide information and health advice."
The first-ever recorded occurrence of the virus in the UK was in 2018, and since then a handful of cases have been confirmed by health authorities
Initial symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion, the UKHSA said. A rash can develop, often beginning on the face, then spreading to other parts of the body. The rash changes and goes through different stages before finally forming a scab, which later falls off.
It can be spread when someone is in close contact with an infected person. The virus can enter the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract or through the eyes, nose or mouth. It can also be spread by contact with infected animals such as monkeys, rats and squirrels, or by virus-contaminated objects, such as bedding and clothing.
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nivek
As Above So Below
UK monkeypox alert as health chiefs detect another FOUR cases of killer virus with NO links to Africa - as gay and bisexual men are urged to look out for 'unusual rash'
Four more people have been diagnosed with monkeypox in the UK, bringing the total number of cases in the latest outbreak to seven. All four new patients are gay or bisexual men who were infected in London and had no travel links to Africa, health chiefs have confirmed after MailOnline broke the news earlier today.
Two are known to each other but have no connection to any of the previous cases, in a sign the virus is spreading in the community for the first time. Nurses and doctors are being advised to stay 'alert' to patients who present with a new rash.
Monkeypox is often mistaken for more common rash illnesses like chickenpox, measles, scabies and syphilis, which makes it difficult to diagnose early. Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: 'This is rare and unusual.
'UKHSA is rapidly investigating the source of these infections because the evidence suggests that there may be transmission of the monkeypox virus in the community, spread by close contact. 'We are particularly urging men who are gay and bisexual to be aware of any unusual rashes or lesions and to contact a sexual health service without delay.'
All seven UK cases have tested positive for the West African strain of the virus, which is believed to be milder than other versions.
Exactly how the new patients acquired the infection 'remains under urgent investigation', the UKHSA said.
The rare viral infection which kills up to one in ten of those infected but does not spread easily between people. It is transmitted via respiratory droplets during prolonged face-to-face contact or bodily fluids.
(More on the link)
Four more people have been diagnosed with monkeypox in the UK, bringing the total number of cases in the latest outbreak to seven. All four new patients are gay or bisexual men who were infected in London and had no travel links to Africa, health chiefs have confirmed after MailOnline broke the news earlier today.
Two are known to each other but have no connection to any of the previous cases, in a sign the virus is spreading in the community for the first time. Nurses and doctors are being advised to stay 'alert' to patients who present with a new rash.
Monkeypox is often mistaken for more common rash illnesses like chickenpox, measles, scabies and syphilis, which makes it difficult to diagnose early. Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: 'This is rare and unusual.
'UKHSA is rapidly investigating the source of these infections because the evidence suggests that there may be transmission of the monkeypox virus in the community, spread by close contact. 'We are particularly urging men who are gay and bisexual to be aware of any unusual rashes or lesions and to contact a sexual health service without delay.'
All seven UK cases have tested positive for the West African strain of the virus, which is believed to be milder than other versions.
Exactly how the new patients acquired the infection 'remains under urgent investigation', the UKHSA said.
The rare viral infection which kills up to one in ten of those infected but does not spread easily between people. It is transmitted via respiratory droplets during prolonged face-to-face contact or bodily fluids.
(More on the link)
AD1184
Celestial
It looks like we've now got community spread of the disease. Great.UK monkeypox alert as health chiefs detect another FOUR cases of killer virus with NO links to Africa - as gay and bisexual men are urged to look out for 'unusual rash'
Four more people have been diagnosed with monkeypox in the UK, bringing the total number of cases in the latest outbreak to seven. All four new patients are gay or bisexual men who were infected in London and had no travel links to Africa, health chiefs have confirmed after MailOnline broke the news earlier today.
Two are known to each other but have no connection to any of the previous cases, in a sign the virus is spreading in the community for the first time. Nurses and doctors are being advised to stay 'alert' to patients who present with a new rash.
Monkeypox is often mistaken for more common rash illnesses like chickenpox, measles, scabies and syphilis, which makes it difficult to diagnose early. Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: 'This is rare and unusual.
'UKHSA is rapidly investigating the source of these infections because the evidence suggests that there may be transmission of the monkeypox virus in the community, spread by close contact. 'We are particularly urging men who are gay and bisexual to be aware of any unusual rashes or lesions and to contact a sexual health service without delay.'
All seven UK cases have tested positive for the West African strain of the virus, which is believed to be milder than other versions.
Exactly how the new patients acquired the infection 'remains under urgent investigation', the UKHSA said.
The rare viral infection which kills up to one in ten of those infected but does not spread easily between people. It is transmitted via respiratory droplets during prolonged face-to-face contact or bodily fluids.
(More on the link)
nivek
As Above So Below
If anyone was vaccinated for smallpox its likely that vaccination will protect from getting the monkeypox since they are very similar illnesses...I don't think people are getting vaccinated for smallpox anymore though...
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wwkirk
Divine
Hopefully you - and everyone else - will never have to find out. Supposedly, that disease is bottled up somewhere.
AD1184
Celestial
The vaccine is however supposed to confer some immunity to the monkeypox disease, which is spreading in the world right now.