July 15, 2022

expert reaction to latest figures on monkeypox cases in the UK

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published the latest epidemiological overview for the ongoing monkeypox outbreak.

Dr Hugh Adler, Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, said:

“These figures show that the outbreak continues to grow at a linear rate. This (reassuringly) is not an exponential rate, and we also know that the majority of patients can recover at home without hospital admission. Less reassuringly, the outbreak shows no signs of slowing down. Awareness of monkeypox symptoms (which can be mild and localised in early disease) must remain paramount, among both clinicians and patients at risk of monkeypox; overwhelmingly, men who have sex with men remain at highest risk currently. Nationally, the rates of contact tracing and pre-exposure vaccination of high-risk individuals need to step up if this is to remain a controllable outbreak.”

Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/monkeypox-cases-confirmed-in-england-latest-updates?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=e2a15bb2-fddd-46be-b8dd-5aff503f6302&utm_content=immediately

Declared interests

Dr Hugh Adler: No COI