Monkeypox is spreading globally for the first time, in an outbreak that has caught health officials off-guard.
The UK’s case count today doubled to 20 but the majority of them are not linked — which suggests more are going undetected.
Eleven countries now have detected this tropical virus. It is typically only found in Africa.
Germany, Belgium and Australia became today the latest to report monkeypox-related cases. France announced positive tests overnight.
According to authorities, a high proportion of the cases involve gay or bisexual men. According to health chiefs, the transmission pattern is highly suggestive that it could spread through sexual networks.
We have everything that we know to date about the monkeypox pandemic:
Twelve countries — including the US, Spain and Italy — have now detected monkeypox, in the first global outbreak of its kind
Monkeypox has been confirmed in eleven more Britons. All but one have had it since they arrived from the UK. The virus was brought back by a UK patient from Nigeria where it is common. Twenty cases have now been reported in the UK.
How can you get monkeypox?
Before the outbreak infecting all of Africa, monkeypox was typically caught in infected animals from west or central Africa.
Tropical virus can be transmitted by rodents including mice, rats and squirrels.
Humans can catch the illness — which comes from the same family as smallpox — if they’re bitten by infected animals, or touch their blood, bodily fluids, or scabs.
The virus can be spread by eating contaminated bush meat or wild game.
The orthopoxvirus can enter the body through broken skin — even if it’s not visible, as well as the eyes, nose and mouth.
Monkeypox is a disease that spreads mainly by wild animals but can also be transmitted between humans.
Health officials insist that it is rare.
Spreading the virus from human to person can happen if an individual touches bedding or clothing that was used by infected persons, as well as direct contact with the scabs.
It can be spread by sneezes and coughs.
In the ongoing surge in cases, experts think the virus is passing through skin-to-skin contact during sex — even though this exact mechanism has never been seen until now.
It is so deadly!
Most patients recover from monkeypox in a matter of weeks.
The disease is still there. An estimated 10% of infections are fatal. However, this rate of death is higher than the average of 10 per cent of infections due to historical insufficient testing.
However, with milder strains the fatality rate is closer to one in 100 — similar to when Covid first hit.
All cases in the UK had the West African virus. This strain is less severe than the Central African one.
Although tests continue to be conducted, it is believed that there may also be milder cases in Spain and Portugal.
It is tested in what way?
Monkeypox can sometimes be hard to diagnose because it’s often mixed with chickenpox and other infections.
A clinical evaluation by a doctor and testing in the UKHSA Rare and Imported Pathogens Lab confirm Monkeypox.
This test includes taking skin samples, including a portion of the scab or fluid from lesions.
Which symptoms are they?
Monkeypox can cause symptoms that last up to 3 weeks.
Early signs of the virus include a fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion — meaning it could, theoretically, be mistaken for other common illnesses.
The most striking feature of this rash is its tendency to start on the skin and then spread to the other areas, such as the hands or feet.
There are many stages to the rash before it forms a scab.
What is the duration of contagiousness?
A person is considered contagious when their skin appears and the scabs are gone.
Infectious virus material may also be found in the scabs.
It is believed that the infective period will last three weeks. However, individual cases may differ.
How do I deal with symptoms?
Anybody with unusual rashes or lesions, particularly on the genitalia or other parts of their bodies, should call NHS 111.
Britons are requested to notify clinics in advance and not contact others until they see a physician.
Gay and bisexual males have been asked not to ignore the signs as the majority of cases were found in those who sex together.
Is monkeypox even possible?
The first case of monkeypox occurred when a similar pox-like virus was discovered in monkeys who were being kept in research facilities in 1958.
In 1970, the first case of human infection was reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since then, the disease has been confirmed in several central and western African countries.
There have been very few reports of these cases outside Africa. They were only reported by people who had travel connections to Africa.
Only the UK, Israel, and Singapore had identified the virus prior to May 2022.
One in ten people infected with Monkeypox will die. It is not common, but it can spread quickly between people. It is considered a tropical disease and can be found in many parts of Africa.
Doctors and nurses are advised to be alert to any patients with new lesions or a rash.
It could be related to chickenpox.
Although it can cause a similar rash to monkeypox, chickenpox does not have a relationship with the disease.
The infection, which usually strikes children, is caused by the varicella-zoster virus.
For comparison, monkeypox — like smallpox — is an orthopoxvirus. Smallpox vaccines offer protection against m because of this connection.onkeypox.
Is it more common for young people to be vulnerable?
The World Health Organization suggests that people under 50 are more likely to contract monkeypox.
This is because children in the UK were routinely offered the smallpox jab, which protects against monkeypox, until 1971.
The WHO cautions that infant mortality rates are higher in young children.
It spreads as quickly as Covid.
According to leading experts, we will not be experiencing Covid-style transmission during the monkeypox epidemic.
A World Health Organization report last year suggested the natural R rate of the virus – the number of people each patient would infect if they lived normally while sick – is two.
This rate is less than the Wuhan-based variant of Covid. It also has about a third the Rrate of the Indian Delta’ strain.
However, the actual rate of infection is much higher because “distinctive symptoms greatly assist in its early detection, containment,” the team explained. This means that it’s easier to detect cases and isolate them.
Covid spreads mainly through drops that infected people release when they cough, breathe, or sneeze.
What is the UK doing to manage the spread of the disease?
MailOnline revealed this week that close relatives of patients with monkeypox, which includes NHS staff, have been offered the Imvanex vaccine for smallpox.
Ring vaccination is a strategy that involves monitoring and jabbing anyone near an infected individual to create a buffer of immune individuals to stop the spread of the disease.
Although the UKHSA does not release the number of people who were vaccinated in the past, a spokesperson said that they had offered vaccines to those who requested it.
The health authorities are reaching out to all contacts who may have become infected.
Is it possible for the virus to continue spreading?
MailOnline was told by experts that they could see a role for targeted jab rolls to gay men in Britain if it wasn’t controlled quickly.
Near contacts to the UK’s most severe cases have been offered the jab. This was originally intended for smallpox. Both rash-causing viruses look very similar.
MailOnline was told by a source that if the number of cases continues to increase, there would be many strategies.
London’s Public Health Regional Director Professor Kevin Fenton stated that vaccines and treatment could expand if the epidemic in London continues to spread.
According to him, there are plans in place for more antivirals should the epidemic continue growing.
Which other countries are aware of cases like this?
Twelve countries — including the US, Spain and Italy — have now detected cases of monkeypox.
Spain reported this morning 14 confirmed cases. This brings the total number of Spanish victims to 21.
And Belgium detected two cases, one in Antwerp and the other in Flemish Brabant.
Germany subsequently confirmed its first ever monkeypox case in a patient who had ‘characteristic skin lesions’ — a tell-tale sign of the illness.
France confirmed that a Parisian man aged 29 had been infected with the virus last night. The virus could be spreading to the rest of the country as he had not traveled in recent years.
Australia has confirmed the cases of two men in their thirties from Australia, which included one who had been travelling from Britain to Melbourne earlier this week with similar symptoms.
Canada, Sweden, Portugal, and the Netherlands all have cases.
According to reports, the World Health Organization has been notified of 37 confirmed infections and 71 suspect cases.
Smallpox vaccinations such as Imvanex and Jynneos can help protect you from monkeypox. This is because the viruses that cause the illness are closely related.
Do you know if there is a vaccine?
The smallpox vaccine, called Imvanex in the UK and Jynneos in the US, can protect against monkeypox because the viruses causing the illnesses are related.
According to data, it has prevented around 85 percent of the cases and has been used “off-label” in the UK from 2018.
The jab, thought to cost £20 per dose, contains a modified vaccinia virus, which is similar to both smallpox and monkeypox, but does not cause disease in people.
This virus is similar to pox viruses so antibodies made against it offer cross protection.
Is there any drug?
There are several smallpox therapies and antivirals that work against the virus, such as the drug Tecovirimat. It was approved by the EU for monkeypox in January.
A few antivirals or therapies for smallpox may also work against monkeypox.
These include the drug tecovirimat which was approved in January for treatment of monkeypox.
Tecovirimat blocks the virus from entering infected cells and prevents its spread throughout the body.
An injectable antiviral used to treat AIDS called cidofovir can be used to manage the infection, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This also stops the spread of viruses.
Is the UK still afflicted?
Between May 6th and May 20th, twenty cases were reported in the UK.
There are no details yet about the 11 confirmed participants in May 20th.
But six of the previous nine confirmed cases were in men who have sex with men — which officials say is ‘highly suggestive of spread in sexual networks’.
This is so alarming.
According to UK health officials, the likelihood of major epidemic is very low.
However, experts say that this outbreak is “concerning” and it is “very uncommon” to witness community transmission in Europe.
The University of Southampton’s Dr Michael Head is a global health expert who said the rising number of cases is “undoubtedly worrying”.
However, he pointed out that “a large monkeypox pandemic like this” is still quite different to one involving Covid.
Dr Head added: ‘Given 11 further cases have been announced today, it’s likely there will be more cases to come in the UK.
“There will undoubtedly be more cases in other countries.” It will be vital for public health workers to track down contacts in an effort to stop the spread of the disease.
Professor Charlotte Hammer of the University of Cambridge is an expert in infectious diseases. She said that it was very rare to find European community transmission. Previous monkeypox cases were in return travellers and had a limited spread.
“Based upon the numerous cases discovered in Europe and the UK over the last days, it is no surprise that further cases are being or will be found. This is especially true with the ongoing contact tracing.
Where is America at the moment?
One case has been confirmed by the US and more are under investigation.
This outbreak was first reported in the United States by a Massachusetts resident on May 18.
Officials in New York City said on May 19 that they would also be investigating a case of monkeypox.
What about Australia?
Australia has confirmed 2 cases of monkeypox in Australia, the first ever.
One man, in his thirties, travelled with symptoms from Britain to Melbourne.
A second man, in his 40s, became unwell after returning from Europe. The relationship between him and the woman he shares a home with is very isolated.
How do I deal with symptoms?
It is a good idea to contact clinics before visiting if you are concerned about monkeypox.
According to health chiefs, any discussion or call will be dealt with sensitively and confidentially.