Friday 20 May 2022 02:49 PM Health chiefs brace for 'MORE monkeypox cases in the coming days' trends now

Friday 20 May 2022 02:49 PM Health chiefs brace for 'MORE monkeypox cases in the coming days' trends now
Friday 20 May 2022 02:49 PM Health chiefs brace for 'MORE monkeypox cases in the coming days' trends now

Friday 20 May 2022 02:49 PM Health chiefs brace for 'MORE monkeypox cases in the coming days' trends now

Covid-weary Britons were today warned that the worst of monkeypox is still to come as the country's outbreak doubled in size.

Health bosses tasked with containing the tropical virus have admitted they 'expect this increase will continue in the coming days'. 

Sajid Javid confirmed another 11 cases today, taking the total number of infected Britons to 20. No details about the new patients have been released yet.

But six of the previous nine confirmed cases were in men who have sex with men — which officials say is 'highly suggestive of spread in sexual networks'. A similar pattern is emerging in Europe.

Leading experts are adamant monkeypox won't spiral out of control like Covid, which forced the nation into two years of economically-crippling restrictions. However, they have called the UK's escalating situation 'undoubtedly worrying'.

Fears are also growing internationally, with the World Health Organization convening an emergency meeting later today to discuss containment strategies. Eleven countries have now detected cases of the virus, which is usually only spotted within Africa. Germany and Belgium today became the latest nations to spot monkeypox.

Dr Susan Hopkins, the UK Health Security Agency's chief medical adviser, claimed authorities 'anticipated further cases would be detected'.

Yet, in a stark warning, she added: 'We expect this increase to continue in the coming days and for more cases to be identified in the wider community.'

MailOnline yesterday revealed health chiefs were stockpiling vaccines amid growing fears about the virus' spread. Ministers were already sitting on 5,000 doses but have now ordered an extra 20,000, sources say.

Close contacts of the UK's known cases, including NHS workers, are already being offered the jab.

But experts today told this website how it was possible gay men could be offered monkeypox vaccines as part of a focused roll-out, if cases continue to disproportionally be in homosexual and bisexual males.

Eleven countries — including the US, Spain and Italy — have now detected monkeypox, in the first global outbreak of its kind

Eleven countries — including the US, Spain and Italy — have now detected monkeypox, in the first global outbreak of its kind

Eleven more Britons have been diagnosed with monkeypox and all but one of them appear to have contracted it in the UK. The original UK patient had brought the virus back from Nigeria, where the disease is widespread. The UK has now logged 20 cases

Eleven more Britons have been diagnosed with monkeypox and all but one of them appear to have contracted it in the UK. The original UK patient had brought the virus back from Nigeria, where the disease is widespread. The UK has now logged 20 cases

MONKEYPOX: Strain 'spreads sexually' and is as deadly as the original Wuhan Covid variant - but a jab exists

What is monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a rare viral infection which people usually pick up in the tropical areas of west and central Africa.

It is usually spread through direct contact with animals such as squirrels, which are known to harbour the virus.

However, it can also be transmitted through very close contact with an infected person.

Monkeypox was first discovered when an outbreak of a pox-like disease occurred in monkeys kept for research in 1958.

The first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the infection has been reported in a number of central and western African countries since then.

Only a handful of cases have been reported outside of Africa until now and they were confined to people with travel links to the continent.

How deadly is it?

Monkeypox is usually mild, with most patients recovering within a few weeks without treatment. Yet, the disease can prove fatal.

However it can kill up to 10 per cent of people it infects.

The milder strain causing the current outbreak kills one in 100 — similar to when Covid first hit. 

Monkeypox shuts down some aspects of your body's ability to fight infections. 

Because of the presence of other viruses and bacteria which your body can't fight off, in the worst cases patients can succumb to a lethal shock throughout the body and blood poisoning. 

Death is more likely to occur in younger patients. The skin lesions are painful and disfiguring, and can be the source of further infections.

Is there a cure?

Because monkeypox is closely related to the virus that causes smallpox, jabs for smallpox can also protect people from getting monkeypox.

One vaccine, Imvanex, was shown to be around 85 per cent effective in preventing monkeypox infection.

Antivirals and pooled blood from individuals vaccinated against smallpox can be used to treat severe cases.

How does it spread?

Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted infection by nature, though it can be passed on by direct contact during sex.

Contagious lesions, through which infections are most likely to be passed on, can appear on any part of the body.

The infection can also be passed on through contact with clothing or linens used by an infected person.

Until now, monkeypox had only ever been detected in four countries outside of Africa - the UK, US, Israel and Singapore.

And all of those cases had travel links to Nigeria and Ghana.

Are gay men at greater risk?

Most of the British and Spanish cases are gay or bisexual men, which officials say is 'highly suggestive of spread in sexual networks'.

The sexuality of patients in other countries has not been disclosed. 

Health chiefs in the UK have issued a direct plea to men who have sex with men, telling them to come forward if they develop a rash on their face or genitals.

What are the symptoms?

Initial symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion.

But its most unusual feature is a rash that often begins on the face, then spreads to other parts of the body, commonly the genitals, hands or feet.

The rash changes and goes through different stages before finally forming a scab, which later falls off.

What do I do if I have symptoms?

Anyone worried that they could be infected with monkeypox is advised to make contact with clinics ahead of their visit.

Health chiefs say their call or discussion will be treated sensitively and confidentially.

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Announcing the new cases today, Mr Javid tweeted: 'UKHSA have confirmed 11 new cases of monkeypox in the UK. This morning I updated G7 health ministers on what we know so far.'

The Health Secretary insisted that most cases were 'mild' and acknowledged No10 had 'procured further doses of vaccines that are effective against monkeypox'.

Britain's 20 cases — which have all been spotted since May 6 — don't all stem from the same cluster, with separate infections springing up that are unconnected.

The first patient had returned from Nigeria, where the smallpox-like virus is endemic. None of the other cases are related to travel, suggesting there is community transmission.

The UKHSA said anyone with unusual rashes or lesions on any part of their body, especially their genitalia, should contact NHS 111 or a sexual health service.

It is delivering training webinars about monkeypox 'at pace' to medics across the UK.

Medical authorities are also probing gay bars, clubs and spas visited by British cases as they scramble to contain the outbreak.

Dr Hopkins added: 'We continue to rapidly investigate the source of these infections and raise awareness among healthcare professionals. 

'We are contacting any identified close contacts of the cases to provide health information and advice.

The UKHSA is now 'urging everyone to be aware of any unusual rashes or lesions and contact NHS 111 or a sexual health service if they have any concerns'.

Dr Hopkins said: 'Please contact clinics ahead of your visit and avoid close contact with others until you have been seen by a clinician.

'A notable proportion of recent cases in the UK and Europe have been found in gay and bisexual men, so we are particularly encouraging them to be alert to the symptoms and seek help if concerned.

'Clinicians should be alert to any individual presenting with unusual rashes without a clear alternative diagnosis and should contact specialist services for advice.'

Dr Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton, said: 'The monkeypox outbreak continues to escalate, and is undoubtedly worrying. 

'The extent of the community transmission of monkeypox, being observed here in the UK and now in several other countries around the world, is concerning.

'However, whilst it is understandable to compare monkeypox with Covid, it’s important to remember they are two different viruses with their own characteristics. A big monkeypox outbreak like this is still a very different situation to a Covid pandemic.'

He also warned that there are 'likely' to be more cases to come.  

Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at the University of Reading, told MailOnline he suspects UK case numbers are already 'in the tens'.

Before May, the UK had only ever seen seven cases of the virus, which is endemic in West Africa.

It is usually spread through handling infected animals, either through their lesions, blood, bodily fluids or eating poorly cooked meat.

But it was known that it could be passed on between humans through close contact with the likes of body fluids, respiratory droplets and lesions.

This is why scientists now think the

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