A WORCESTERSHIRE virologist has said there is some concern over the rising number of monkeypox cases in the UK.

But Professor Lawrence Young has stressed the disease is “nothing like Covid” as transmission is much more difficult in comparison with aerosolviruses like coronavirus.

There have been as yet no confirmed cases of monkeypox in Worcestershire, but cases have continued to rise nationally this week as - according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) - there were 79 cases reported of monkeypox in the UK as of Tuesday (May 24).

Worcester News: MONKEYPOX: Picture UKHSAMONKEYPOX: Picture UKHSA

Professor Young said: “Monkeypox is nowhere near as contagious as something like Covid.

“You have to be in very, very close contact to be infected, and before you spread it you would have had signs of infection, like the rash.

“At the moment there is a bit of work going on to identify what is happening, why we are getting these cases."

Professor Young, who lives in Bromsgrove and works at Warwick Medical School, added that the "good news" was that the smallpox vaccine works against monkeypox.

“If you were born before 1971 you had that smallpox vaccine," Professor Young said. 

"That gives you life long protection, but if you were born after that date you won’t be protected by a vaccine.

“Countries are building supplies of the vaccine, you can vaccinate people in an area and contain it."

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) spokesperson has previously told us the plan if a case was discovered in the county. 

The spokesperson said: “If any cases of monkeypox are identified we will rapidly investigate the source of their infection and carry out detailed contact tracing to follow up anyone who may have come into contact with them.

 

“Contact tracing will be carried out on a case-by-case basis and contacts will be categorised based on their level of contact with the person and the likelihood that they may have contracted the infection.

"The level of risk will vary between different types of contact.

“Following a risk assessment, the appropriate health information and advice will be provided to the contacts so that they know what to look out for and what action to take.”

 

What is monkeypox?

 

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus, which originates in West and Central Africa.

According to the NHS, the symptoms include high temperature, fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion.

 

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How is monkeypox spread?

 

  • touching items like clothing, bedding or towels used by an infected person
  • touching monkeypox spots or scabs
  • a person with a monkeypox rash who coughs or sneezes near you
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What to do if you think you have monkeypox

 

If someone thinks they have monkeypox symptoms, however mild, they should:

 

Contact NHS 111 or call a sexual health clinic immediately. Their call will be treated sensitively and confidentially.

Avoid close personal or sexual contact with others

 

People should also contact the clinic ahead of their visit and avoid close contact with others until they have been seen by a clinician.