Two cases of monkeypox found in the UK: what you need to know

A second case of life-threatening monkeypox having been diagnosed in the United Kingdom, advice has been published on the elements to be taken into account.

The disease was diagnosed in one patient in Cornwall last week and a few days later, a second case was detected at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

It was confirmed that a man from Nigeria had been diagnosed on Friday with a rare viral infection in Cornwall, the very first diagnosis of this type in the UK.

He was taken to a specialist hospital in London after visiting a naval base in the area, reports Plymouth Live.

Public Health England (PHE) contacted about 50 people close to him but pointed out that the risk of transmission to the general population was very low.

A spokesman for PHE said the man had flown on a commercial flight to the UK. He then traveled from London to Cornwall.

The airline helped officials to identify passengers sitting next to the man who allegedly contracted the infection in Nigeria before traveling to the United Kingdom.

The spokesman for PHE said that about 50 people in total have been identified as having been in close contact with the man. He added that they were all contacted.

The second patient to have tested positive had also recently traveled to Nigeria, where they reportedly caught the virus, reports the Daily Post. But we think that the two cases are not related.

In the Blackpool case, the person who was not named went home from the African country and became ill.

They are currently treated in a specialized unit at Liverpool University Hospital, a center specializing in infectious respiratory diseases.

Public Health England is now trying to contact anyone who may have been in contact with one or the other of the patients.

Dr. Nick Phin, Deputy Director of National Infection Services at PHE: "We know that in September 2017, Nigeria experienced a major outbreak of Monkeypox and since then, sporadic cases have continued to be reported.

"It is likely that Monkeypox will continue to circulate in Nigeria and could therefore affect travelers returning from this part of the world.

"However, it is very unusual to see two cases in a relatively short period of time.

"We are working hard to contact people, including health care workers, who may have been in contact with the individual to provide information and health advice."

Is Monkeypox infectious?

Yes, but the monkeypox does not spread easily between people.

The infection can spread when a person is in close contact with an infected person. However, the risk of transmission to the general population is very low.

Is it dangerous?

It is usually a self-limiting illness and most people recover within a few weeks. However, a serious illness can occur in some people.

The incubation period of monkeypox is between 5 and 21 days.

What are the symptoms?

The first symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion.

A rash can develop, often starting on the face, then spreading to other parts of the body. The eruption changes and goes through different stages before forming a crust that then falls.

What happened in Cornwall?

PHE stated that the patient resided at a naval base in Cornwall.

Once diagnosed, they were taken to the infectious diseases unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London, where they now receive appropriate care.

The patient is a resident of Nigeria, where he is thought to have the infection, before traveling to the United Kingdom.

What measures have been taken?

As a precaution, PHE experts work closely with the NHS and will contact people who may have been in close contact with the person to provide health information and advice.

This involves contacting a number of passengers who have traveled close to the patient on the same flight to the UK.

People without symptoms are not considered infectious, but as a precaution, people in the vicinity are contacted to make sure that if they do not feel well, they can be treated quickly. If the passengers are not contacted, they should not do anything.

What is the frequency of monkeypox?

Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 when episodes of smallpox-like disease appeared in monkeys for research.

The first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and since then infection has been reported in several countries of Central and West Africa.

In 2003, monkeypox was registered in the United States when an outbreak occurred following the importation of rodents from Africa. Cases have been reported in humans and in prairie dogs. No other country outside of West and Central Africa has reported cases or similar outbreaks.

In 2018 in Africa, cases of monkeypox have been reported in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia and Nigeria.

This case imported to Cornwall is the first British record of monkeypox.

How is it treated?

The treatment of monkeypox is mainly favorable. The disease is usually mild and most infected people recover within a few weeks without treatment.

What do the experts say?

Dr. Michael Jacobs, Clinical Director of Infection at Royal Free Hospital, said, "Monkeypox is, in most cases, a mild disease that will go away on its own and has no long-term effects on the disease. health of a person. Most people recover in a few weeks.

"This is a rare disease caused by the monkeypox virus and reported mainly in Central and West African countries.

"It does not extend easily between people and the risk of transmission to the general public is very low. We use strict isolation procedures at the hospital to protect our staff and patients. "

Dr. Nick Phin, Deputy Director of the National Infection Service at PHE, added, "It is important to note that monkeypox does not spread easily between people and that the general risk to the general public is very low.

"Public Health England follows up with those who have had close contact with the patient to give them advice and follow them if necessary.

"PHE and the NHS have well-established and robust infection control procedures to treat cases of imported infectious diseases and these will be strictly followed to minimize the risk of transmission."