The United Kingdom has the largest number of monkeypox cases identified since Africa, with more than 300 confirmed cases a month after the outbreak. So far, more than 700 cases of the virus have been detected, with several more suspected cases in more than 20 countries around the world. The virus is known to spread when there is close contact with an infected person, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Here are the latest updates on the monkeypox epidemic:
1. The United Kingdom’s Health Security Agency has identified monkeypox as a ‘notifiable infectious disease’, with more than 300 cases of the disease in the country. With the diagnosis of the disease, doctors in England will have to notify local authorities when they suspect that a patient has the virus. Wendy Shepard, director of monkeypox incidents at UKHSA, said in a statement: “Rapid diagnosis and reporting are the key to stopping the transmission and limiting any further spread of monkeypox. “This new legislation will support us and our health partners in quickly identifying, treating and controlling the disease,” Reuters quoted him as saying.
Also read: Can Monkeypox and Covid-19 Coexist? Here is what an expert has to say
2. The United Kingdom is stepping up its requirement to report monkeypox as it is dealing with a mass outbreak. The country is speeding up data collection and analysis, helping employees quickly identify possible outbreaks and track contacts, while offering vaccinations when needed, Bloomberg reports.
3. Canada has issued a travel notice related to monkeypox, advising travelers from more than two dozen countries – including Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States – to take precautions. Canada in its Level 2 notice also warned of potential delays in returning home if passengers become ill.
4. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that it has removed the mask recommendation from its monkey measles travel notice to avoid “confusion” about the disease. Earlier, the agency suggested passengers wear a mask, as it can help prevent “many diseases, including monkeypox.”
5. A five-year-old child from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, who is suspected of being infected with monkeypox, tested negative on Tuesday. The sample was sent for testing after the child complained of itching and rashes on the body.
(Contributed by agencies)
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