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UK Health agency confirms community spread of monkeypox in the country
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on Wednesday (June 1) that Monkeypox appears to be spreading from person to person in England.
The agency said: "The current outbreak is the first time that the virus has been passed from person to person in England where travel links to an endemic country have not been identified."
According to the UKHSA, the majority of cases in the United Kingdom - 132 - are in London, while 111 cases are known to be in gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Only two cases are in women.
Recent foreign travel to a number of different countries in Europe within 21 days of symptom onset has been reported by 34 confirmed cases, or about 18% of the 190 cases of the disease that have been confirmed by the United Kingdom as of May 31.
So far, the UKHSA has identified links to gay bars, saunas and the use of dating apps in Britain and abroad.
The agency cautioned: "Investigations continue but currently no single factor or exposure that links the cases has been identified."
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Monkeypox can affect anyone, but many of the most recent diagnoses are the GBMSM community - many of whom live in, or have links to London, said Kevin Fenton, London's regional director for public health.
He said: "As with any new disease outbreak, the risk of stigma and uncertainty is great."
The UKHSA is working with groups including the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV and the dating App Grindr to communicate with sexual health services and the GBMSM community. It is also encouraging the LGBT Consortium and Pride event organisers to help with messaging in the coming weeks.
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Monkeypox typically causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled skin lesions that usually resolve on their own within weeks, but can kill a small fraction of those infected.
UK health authorities are offering Bavarian Nordic's vaccine, Imvanex, to contacts of confirmed or suspected cases.
Source: usnews
