An update on monkeypox cases in the South West has been released as cases across the country have now reached 300. It is the first time the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has provided regional data for the South West.
The figures released by UKHSA show that, as of May 30, fewer than five cases of monkeypox had been detected in the South West. At that point, the majority of cases in England had been detected in London (132).
This comes after it was revealed at least three people in the South West had been vaccinated against monkeypox after close contact. Two people in Exeter and one person in Bristol were given a smallpox vaccine after being potentially exposed to monkeypox, according to health chiefs.
Read more: Monkeypox vaccination given to at least three South West people after close contact
In an update this afternoon (June 6), UKHSA said: "The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has detected 73 additional cases of monkeypox in England, 2 additional cases in Scotland and 2 in Wales. This brings the total number confirmed in the UK to 302 as of June 5.
"There are currently 287 confirmed cases in England, 10 in Scotland, 2 in Northern Ireland and 3 in Wales. Anyone can get monkeypox, particularly if you have had close contact, including sexual contact, with an individual with symptoms. People who are gay or bisexual and men who have sex with men remain disproportionately affected."
UKHSA is advising people to contact a sexual health clinic if they have a rash with blisters and they have been either to West or Central Africa in the past 3 weeks or in close contact, including sexual contact, with someone who has or might have monkeypox (even if they’ve not been tested yet) in the past 3 weeks.
The NHS describes monkeypox as "a rare infection that's mainly spread by wild animals in parts of west or central Africa" and it says the risk of catching it in the UK is low. The NHS states: "Monkeypox can also be spread through:
- touching clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with the monkeypox rash
- touching monkeypox skin blisters or scabs
- the coughs or sneezes of a person with the monkeypox rash"
And it adds: "Although more people have been diagnosed with it recently, only a small number of people in the UK have had monkeypox and the risk remains low.
"You're extremely unlikely to have monkeypox if:
- you have not been in close contact (such as touching their skin or sharing bedding) with someone who has monkeypox or has monkeypox symptoms
- you have not recently travelled to west or central Africa."
The first symptoms for monkeypox take between 5 and 21 days to appear. These include a high temperature, a headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen glands, shivering (chills) and exhaustion.
