An individual has been diagnosed with monkeypox in England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said.
The patient recently traveled from Nigeria, where he is believed to have contracted the infection, before traveling to the UK.
They are now receiving care at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust Infectious Diseases Expert Unit, London.
UKHSA experts are monitoring the case and working closely with NHS colleagues to contact people who may have been in close contact with the individual.
Dr Colin Brown, Director of Clinical and Emerging Infections at UKHSA, said: ‘It is important to stress that monkeypox does not spread easily between people and the overall risk to the general public is very low.
An individual has been diagnosed with monkeypox in England.
The patient recently traveled from Nigeria, where he is believed to have contracted the infection, before traveling to the UK.
More information: https://t.co/DnN8j7Rboj
– UK Health Safety Agency (@UKHSA) May 7, 2022
“We are working with NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI) to contact people who have been in close contact with the case before their infection was confirmed, to assess them if necessary and provide advice.
“The UKHSA and NHS have well established and robust infection control procedures for dealing with cases of imported infectious disease and these will be strictly followed.”
The first UK case of monkeypox was recorded in September 2018. The individual is also believed to have contracted the infection in Nigeria.
What are the symptoms of monkeypox?
Early symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion.
A rash may also develop, usually starting on the face before spreading to other parts of the body. It eventually forms a crust that falls off.
PHE said monkeypox does not spread easily and most patients recover within weeks, but it can cause serious illness in some people.
Dr Nicholas Price, director of the NHSEI High Consequence Infectious Diseases (Airborne) Network and infectious disease consultant at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: ‘The patient is being treated in our specialist isolation unit at the hospital St Thomas by expert clinical staff with strict infection prevention procedures.
“This is a good example of how the National High Consequence Infectious Diseases Network and the UKHSA are working closely together to respond quickly and effectively to these sporadic cases.”
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Source: www.times-series.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-05-07 14:41:31
