Monkeypox cases in UK rise to 106 with 16 more confirmed in England

Monkeypox cases in UK rise to 106 with 16 more confirmed in England
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Aden-Jay Wood

By Aden-Jay Wood


Published: 27/05/2022

- 15:23

Updated: 27/05/2022

- 15:40

The figure includes three cases in Scotland, one in Wales and one in Northern Ireland

A further 16 cases of monkeypox have been detected in England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.

The latest cases bring the total number confirmed in England since May 7 to 101.


There have been three confirmed cases in Scotland, one in Wales and one in Northern Ireland, taking the UK total to 106.

FILE PHOTO: An image created during an investigation into an outbreak of monkeypox, which took place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1996 to 1997, shows the arms and torso of a patient with skin lesions due to monkeypox, in this undated image obtained by Reuters on May 18, 2022. CDC/Brian W.J. Mahy/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY./File Photo
A file photo of a person with monkeypox
CDC/BRIAN W.J. MAHY

It comes after an infectious disease expert told GB News that a monkeypox lockdown should not be needed if we get the disease under control.

Monkeypox cases are continuing to grow around the world after the virus spread to Europe.

But London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine's Professor Jimmy Whitworth told GB News that such a lockdown would not be necessary, providing we get the virus under control.

He told us: "I do not think a lockdown will ever be needed, because I am hopeful that we will get it under control before that would ever be considered.

"Monkeypox can be a serious disease. With this West African strain, about one percent of cases may die.

"It is likely that the number of cases will continue to increase until we are able to control transmission which requires identification of all the cases and their contacts.

"The final size of the outbreak will depend on how quickly we can control transmission."

Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion.

A rash can develop, often beginning on the face, which then spreads to other parts of the body including the genitals.

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