UKHSA confirms no cases on Monkey pox in Bury

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed today that 7 more cases of the virus have been identified in the UK, bringing the total to 79.

As of May 24 UKHSA have confirmed 77 cases in England and 1 case in Wales.

The Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland confirmed its first case today while Public Health Scotland identified one case on Monday.

Symptoms of the virus include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion.

A rash can develop, often beginning on the face, then spreading to other parts of the body including the genitals.

Monkeypox is usually a mild self-limiting illness, spread by very close contact with someone with monkeypox and most people recover within a few weeks.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has described the monkeypox outbreak as “atypical” but leading scientists have claimed it is not the next pandemic.

Professor David Heymann, an expert on infectious disease epidemiology at The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said it will not spread in the same manner as coronavirus.

He told the PA news agency: “This will not be a pandemic as we know pandemics, but it certainly is possible that this disease has spread in many different parts of the world already and we are just beginning to identify it.

“It is not transmitted by air, we don’t believe, so it’s not a respiratory infection like SARS-Coronavirus-2 (Covid-19), so it will not spread in the same manner.”

UKHSA health protection teams are contacting people considered to be high-risk contacts of confirmed cases and are advising those who have been risk assessed and remain well to isolate at home for up to 21 days.

It has advised anyone with unusual rashes or lesions on any part of their body should immediately contact NHS 111 or their local sexual health service.

Anyone who suspects they may have contracted the virus should phone ahead before attending clinics in person.