A colorized transmission electron micrograph of monkeypox virus particles
(Picture: PA Media)A leading sexual health charity has accused the Government of “lacklustre” action on monkeypox as it warned the virus could become endemic in the UK without a targeted awareness campaign.
The Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) said it had withdrawn its support from the Government’s “lacklustre” public health communications approach to the virus amid fears officials are not doing enough to reach the most at-risk group, gay and bisexual men.
It said it had consistently raised the need for a targeted campaign, including directly with the UK Health Security Agency’s head, Dame Jenny Harries, but had not received a reply from her.
Dominic Edwardes, the charity’s director of communications, said: “The overwhelming majority of monkeypox cases continue to be in gay and bisexual men and a sustained, multi-channel campaign targeted at this community is needed to protect this group’s health and prevent monkeypox from becoming endemic in the UK.
“It’s crucial we reach those at high risk who still need to be vaccinated, those needing to access a second dose and those currently managing the risk through changing their sexual behaviour.”
He added: “We firmly believe that a strongly targeted health campaign is a necessity to stop monkeypox from becoming endemic and that the money must be found to implement it.”
The charity will no longer attend the Government’s monkeypox communications meetings over the lack of “appropriate” action but it said it was committed to the wider plan for tackling monkeypox.
Of the UK’s 3,673 cases to date, more than two-thirds have been in London. The boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark have been the two worst-affected areas in the country, with 330 and 228 cases recorded respectively.
Vauxhall MP Florence Eshalomi told the Standard the charity’s fears were “concerning” and that Health Secretary Thérèse Coffey urgently needed to get a grip on the outbreak to stop it becoming endemic.
Ms Eshalomi said: “The public health response has been far too slow — without a clear plan for eradication of monkeypox, no clear vaccination strategy in place or national leader responsible for overseeing the response.
“We agree that a strongly targeted health campaign is a necessity to stop monkeypox from becoming endemic and that the money must be found to implement it.”
The UKHSA’s incident director, Dr Will Morton, denied the agency was being complacent over the virus.
“With thanks to Terrence Higgins Trust and other LGBT+ and sexual health partners, there is very high awareness of the disease, its symptoms and how to seek help and prevent transmission among those at higher risk,” he said.
“We are not complacent and will continue to ensure that everyone has the information they need to stay safe.
“Cases of monkeypox are low and this is thanks to a combination of the vaccine and changes in behaviour, based on information that UKHSA has published.”
Cases of the virus have declined since a peak in July.
Professor Neil Ferguson, an infectious diseases modeller, said earlier this month this was likely due to changes in behaviour among those in high-risk groups and vaccinations.
However, he also warned of the dangers of becoming complacent about the virus, saying: “We have to be alert to the possibility that once case numbers are much lower and maybe people are less vigilant, then we could start to see a resurgence.”
