Officials say patient was infected in Nigeria and risk of public transmission is very low
A second patient in England has been diagnosed with monkeypox, health officials have said, three days after the first case of the rare virus was confirmed.
Public Health England (PHE) said it was unusual to see two cases in such a short space of time and officials were searching for anyone, including medical staff, who had come into contact with either patient, to offer them health advice.
They stressed, however, that there was no UK link between the two patients and said the virus does not spread easily between people.
The second patient was being treated in the tropical and infectious diseases unit of Royal Liverpool University hospital. The unit’s clinical director, Dr Mike Beadsworth, said staff there were highly trained and experienced in dealing with a variety of infectious diseases.
“All necessary precautions are being taken by specialist staff and there is currently no risk to other staff, patients or visitors,” he said. “We ask that people continue to use our services as normal and that people only come to our emergency department if their condition is serious and/or an emergency.”
PHE said monkeypox was “usually a mild, self-limiting illness and most people recover within a few weeks. However, severe illness can occur in some individuals.”
It said the virus could be spread by close contact with an infected person, but the risk of transmission to the general population was “very low”.
The first patient to be diagnosed, who was from Nigeria and was staying at a naval base in Cornwall, is being treated at the Royal Free hospital in London. The second patient had just returned to the UK from the west African nation, where each is believed to have contracted the virus, and first went to Blackpool Victoria hospital.
Dr Nick Phin, the deputy director of PHE’s national infection service, said monkeypox was probably still circulating in Nigeria after an outbreak there a year ago.
Besides medical staff, PHE said it was trying to contact passengers who were near the first patient on the flight to the UK. It said people who had no symptoms were not considered to be infectious and anyone who was not contacted did not need to take any action.
“Initial symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion,” PHE said. “A rash can develop, often beginning on the face, then spreading to other parts of the body. The rash changes and goes through different stages before finally forming a scab, which later falls off.”
Health officials have warned a second person has been identified with the rare and potentially life-threatening infection monkeypox, just days after the first ever case in England was identified in Cornwall.
The infections are thought to be unrelated and Public Health England (PHE) is trying to contact anyone who might have come into contact with either of the patients, who have both recently visited Nigeria.
The new patient is believed to have picked up the infection while visiting the country and it was diagnosed at Blackpool Victoria Hospital when they returned home and fell ill.
Health officials said infection is usually mild and the condition does not spread easily, but severe cases can be fatal and the patient has been transferred to a specialist infectious disease unit at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
“We know that in September 2017 Nigeria experienced a large sustained outbreak of monkeypox and since then sporadic cases have continued to be reported,” said Dr Nick Phin, deputy director of PHE’s National Infection Service.
“It is likely that monkeypox continues to circulate in Nigeria and could therefore affect travellers who are returning from this part of the world, however, it is very unusual to see two cases in such a relatively short space of time.”
Monkeypox: the facts Monkeypox occurs primarily in remote parts of central and west Africa, near tropical rainforests.
It is similar to human smallpox, which was eradicated in 1980. Although monkeypox is much milder, it can be fatal.
The virus is mostly transmitted to people from wild animals such as primates but can spread from human to human.
The fatality rate is between 1 per cent and 10 per cent. Source: World Health Organisation
Initial symptoms include fever, headache, aching muscles, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion.
A rash can also develop, usually starting on the face before spreading to other parts of the body. It eventually forms a scab that falls off.
Dr Mike Beadsworth, clinical director of the Tropical and Infectious Diseases Unit at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, said: “We are treating a patient who has tested positive for monkeypox.
“The patient is being cared for on our specialist infectious and tropical diseases unit, by highly trained staff who are experienced in dealing with a variety of infectious diseases.”
Over the weekend it was reported that a Nigerian citizen staying at a naval base in Cornwall had been diagnosed with the first ever case of monkeypox in England and PHE was trying to trace other people who may have shared their flight as a precaution. The first case, believed to be a naval officer, is being treated at the Royal Free Hospital in London.
The disease, which was first identified in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has mostly been spread on the African continent through the handling of infected monkeys, Gambian giant rats and squirrels, with rodents being the most likely source of the virus.
Eating inadequately cooked meat from infected animals is another possible risk factor, according to the World Health Organisation.
Healthcare staff or people who may have come into contact with either infected person should contact PHE for health advice.
Monkeypox case number two has been confirmed in the UK, with a second individual diagnosed in England. A patient was diagnosed with the illness last week in Cornwall and is currently receiving care at the Royal Free in London. But Public Health England (PHE) has said there no link between the two cases. The patient in this second case is believed to have contracted the disease in Nigeria before travelling to the UK. The second patient first presented at Blackpool Victoria Hospital and following a positive test result was transferred to Royal Liverpool University Hospital, an expert respiratory infectious disease centre, where they are now receiving appropriate care.
Monkeypox case number two has been confirmed in the UK, with a second individual diagnosed in England
Monkeypox is a rare viral infection that does not spread easily between people. It is usually a mild self-limiting illness. Dr Nick Phin, Deputy Director, National Infection Service at PHE: “We know that in September 2017 Nigeria experienced a large sustained outbreak of monkeypox and since then sporadic cases have continued to be reported. “It is likely that monkeypox continues to circulate in Nigeria and could therefore affect travellers who are returning from this part of the world, however, it is very unusual to see two cases in such a relatively short space of time. “We are working hard to contact individuals, including healthcare workers, that might have come into contact with the individual to provide information and health advice.” Dr Mike Beadsworth, Clinical Director of the Tropical and Infectious Diseases Unit added: “We are treating a patient who has tested positive for monkeypox. The patient is being cared for on our specialist infectious and tropical diseases unit, by highly trained staff who are experienced in dealing with a variety of infectious diseases. “All necessary precautions are being taken by specialist staff and there is currently no risk to other staff, patients or visitors.
Monkeypox outbreak: The second case has been confirmed in the UK
“We ask that people continue to use our services as normal and that people only come to our emergency department if their condition is serious and/or an emergency.” The first monkeypox patient was staying in a naval base in Cornwall, before being taken to hospital. They are 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 can be spread by human-to-human contact. So what are the symptoms of monkeypox you should be looking out for?
Monkeypox symptoms include fluid-filled blisters
Monkeypox has been circulating in Nigeria and therefore affect travellers returning to the UK
Monkeypox diagnosed in UK for first time last weekend (Saturday September 8)
Viruses early signs are similar to flu during its early phases
Infection develops to widespread rashes and blisters
Stay at home if you're worried that you may have monkeypox
The monkeypox virus has been found in the UK for the first time, Public Health England revealed on Saturday (September 8).
The disease, which is similar to smallpox, is usually found in central and western Africa.
A Nigerian resident contracted the infection before arriving in the UK, it’s believed.
But, what are the common warning signs of a monkeypox viral infection? It may be more difficult to spot than you think.
