Monkeypox outbreak - cases confirmed in more UK areas and sex blamed for spread

dailystar.co.uk:

Monkeypox is spreading across the UK, with nine more cases confirmed and sexual contact blamed for the spread.There are currently 20 cases of the disease in the UK, confirmed by Health Secretary Sajid Javid on Friday, with there currently being 80 confirmed cases across 12 different countries.

Experts have raised concerns about the "massive impact" that the disease could have on sexual health clinics if it continues to spread.The regional director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) atold the BBC that out of the confirmed cases of monkeypox, only one patient had recently travelled to West and Central Africa, where the virus is endemic.Data also suggests that gay and bisexual men are currently being disproportionally affected by the disease, with health chiefs in the UK "actively investigating" venues visited by six gay and bisexual men who have tested positive.UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has advised men who have sex with men “to be aware of any unusual rashes or lesions and to contact a sexual health service without delay if they have concerns”.Dr Claire Dewsnap, president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, told the BBC that the monkeypox outbreak was worsening the “significant pressure” that sexual health clinic staff are already under.“It is already stretching the workforce and will have a massive impact if staff have to isolate if they are in close contact with someone who’s infected," she later told BBC Radio 4.“In terms of the infection and its consequences for individuals, I’m not that concerned.“But I am concerned about our ability to maintain good sexual health services and access for everyone while still managing this new infection.”Meanwhile, Professor Sir Peter Horby, director of.