ALERT: Case Of Deadly Monkeypox Virus Reported

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Public Health England has confirmed that the MONKEYPOX virus has been reported in the UK for the first time.

signs and symptoms of the rare monkeypox virus are headaches and back pain, as well as crusty pustules all over the body.

The disease, which is usually found in central and west Africa, is very similar to smallpox, but can be deadly.

An individual is confirmed to have monkeypox, who was staying in a naval base in Cornwall, before being transferred to the expert infectious disease unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London.

The most common symptom of monkeypox is the “eruption” of skin rashes all over the body, which appear as fluid-filled blisters.

The infected patient is a resident of Nigeria, and it’s believed they contracted the infection before travelling to the UK.

PHE and the NHS are contacting individuals who may have been in close contact with the patient, as monkeypox may be spread by human-to-human contact.
A number of passengers that were travelling on the same flight to the UK as the patient have been contacted.

“It is important to emphasise that monkeypox does not spread easily between people and the overall risk to the general public is very low,” said Deputy Direct of PHE’s National Infection Service, Dr Nick Phin.

“Public Health England is following up those who have had close contact with the patient to offer advice and to monitor them as necessary.

“PHE and the NHS have well established and robust infection control procedures for dealing with cases of imported infectious disease and these will be strictly followed to minimise the risk of transmission.”

Early warning signs of a monkeypox infection include fever, intense headaches, back pain, and muscle aches, said the World Health Organization (WHO).
After a fever develops, patients enter the “skin eruption period” – this is where rashes appear all over the body, starting with the face.

The rash is most likely to appear on the face or the hands and soles of the feet.

In most cases, the rash develops into vesicles – which are basically small, fluid-filled blisters – or pustules. These could become crusty, and fall off the skin in around 10 days.

It may however take up to three weeks for the complete disappearance of the crusts, the WHO warns.