The incidence of smallpox has almost tripled in Britain, as health officials in Europe warn that the disease could become endemic to the continent.
Another 36 cases were confirmed on Monday, up from 20 on Friday, the UK’s Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said, as the virus continues to spread around the world.
Dr Susan Hopkins, the agency’s chief medical adviser, urged people to be aware of any unusual rashes or lesions and to contact a sexual health service if they have any symptoms.
“Thanks to everyone who has already responded to the test and supported our efforts to track contacts – you are helping us limit the spread of this infection in the UK,” she said.
UKHSA said it had purchased supplies of a “safe” smallpox vaccine and offered it to those who had had close contact with someone diagnosed with monkeypox. Those who are considered high risk after exposure are advised to isolate themselves at home for up to 21 days.
The Public Health Authority has confirmed that 1,000 doses of Imvanex have been issued or are being issued to NHS trusts. It says there are currently more than 3,500 doses of Imvanex in the UK.
The news comes after the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said EU countries need to review the availability of smallpox vaccines and update their contract tracking systems, as a total of 85 cases of monkeypox have been identified. measles in eight EU countries.
He also says that failure to prevent the disease from spreading back to humans in the wild could also make it endemic in Europe.
The ECDC statement said that the monkeypox virus could cause severe disease in certain groups, such as young children, pregnant women and immunosuppressed people, but added that “further research is needed to accurately assess morbidity and mortality in this hearth. ”
It adds: “If human-to-animal transmission occurs and the virus spreads to an animal population, there is a risk that the disease will become endemic in Europe.
“As such, there must be close cross-sectoral cooperation between human and veterinary public health authorities to manage exposed pets and prevent the transmission of the disease to wildlife.
However, it is said that the probability of an “overflow” in the animal population in Europe is very low.
The stages of monkeypox with the development of the infection
(PA Media)
Monkeypox is spread through close contact between people who can be infected through airborne droplets, contact with the lesions of someone infected.
Dr David Heyman, who previously headed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) emergency department, told the Associated Press that the leading theory explaining the spread of the disease was the sexual transmission of events in Spain and Belgium.
The disease is spread through close contact
(Brian WJ Mahyvia / CDC / Reuters)
“We know that monkeypox can spread when there is close contact with the lesions of someone who is infected, and sexual contact now appears to have intensified this transmission,” said Dr. Heyman.
A significant number of cases in the UK and Europe have so far been identified in gays, bisexuals and men who have sex with men, but there is no evidence that smallpox is specifically a sexually transmitted disease. It is reported that one child is being treated in intensive care with the disease.
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