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First suspected case of monkeypox has been reported in Greater Manchester
The virus is contacted through close contact, and causes rashes with blisters
The first suspected case of monkeypox has been found in a Greater Manchester town this week.
New figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show there was a report of a suspected case of the viral infection in Wigan on the week ending June 12th.
It is not yet been confirmed whether there have been any suspected cases reported in the other boroughs of Greater Manchester.
On June 8th, monkeypox was added to the list of notifiable diseases by the UK Health Security Agency, meaning medics and GPs are legally required to report any suspected cases of the virus they may come across.
World Health Organisation
The UKHSA says there were 550 confirmed cases in England, sixteen in Scotland, two in Northern Ireland and six in Wales, as of June 16th.
Dr. William Welfare, incident director at UKHSA, said: “As case numbers of monkeypox continue to rise and with many summer events and festivals ahead, we’re reminding people to be aware of the symptoms of monkeypox, particularly if you’ve recently had new or multiple sexual partners, to help prevent further spread and protect others.
“If you have a rash with blisters, or any other monkeypox symptoms, don’t go to events, meet with friends or have sexual contact.
“Instead, stay at home and contact 111 or your local sexual health service for advice. Please contact the clinic ahead of your visit and avoid close contact with others until you’ve been seen by a clinician.”
You can catch monkeypox if you have had close contact, including sexual contact, with someone with symptoms – however, it’s a rare viral infection and does not spread easily between people.
According to the NHS, the first symptoms of monkeypox include a high temperature, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen glands and exhaustion.
A rash usually appears one to five days after the first symptoms, and often begins on the face, then spreads to other parts of the body. This can include the genitals.
The rash starts as raised spots, which turn into small blisters filled with fluid. These blisters eventually form scabs which later fall off. The symptoms usually clear up in a few weeks.
While monkeypox is mild with people usually recovering within a few weeks, the NHS is urging people to isolate if they come into contact with it.
Visit the NHS website for more information.