Cases of monkeypox have spread to two new areas of the UK, as cases hit a total of 80, health authorities have confirmed.
The first case of the virus has been confirmed in Wales and one person in Northern Ireland is reported to be in hospital with monkeypox.
Dr Giri Shankar, director of health protection for Public Health Wales, said: “We are working with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Public Health Scotland, and Public Health Agency Northern Ireland, and we are ready to respond to cases of monkeypox in Wales.
“The case is being managed appropriately.
"To protect patient confidentiality, no further details relating to the patient will be disclosed.
“Everyone is being asked to be aware of the monkeypox symptoms, but it is important that gay and bisexual men are alert as it’s believed to be spreading in sexual networks.
“Anyone with unusual rashes or lesions on any part of their body should contact NHS 111 or call a sexual health service if they have concerns.”
There are now believed to be 80 cases of monkeypox in the UK.
The UKHSA will update the totals later today.
Their last update stated that 77 cases were in England and one in Scotland.
Now there are also one in Northern Ireland and one in Wales too.
Despite the rise in cases, the UKHSA has said the risk to the overall UK population “remains low”.
Gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men are being urged in particular to be aware of symptoms, especially if they have recently had a new sexual partner.
UKHSA teams have been tracing contacts of those with a confirmed case and are advising those at highest risk to isolate for 21 days.
A smallpox vaccine is also being offered to close contacts to reduce their risk of symptoms and severe illness.
The news comes as a study published by the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal has poured cold water on the theory that monkeypox patients are no longer contagious once their lesions have disappeared.
The Lancet report looked at seven people who had monkeypox – a close relative of the smallpox virus – in Britain between 2018 and 2021, with all cases linked to Africa.
None of the patients died or needed intensive care treatment, but some were admitted to hospital as a precaution to prevent any onward transmission.
Co-author Dr Hugh Adler, a research fellow at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, said: “We can see the virus remains positive in the throat and blood for the length of the illness and maybe even longer after the rash is resolved.
“We don’t know that this means these patients are more infectious or infectious for longer, but it does inform us of the biology of disease.”
Earlier this week, it was reported that a child was said to be in intensive care with the virus.
