The 2022–2023 mpox outbreak in the United Kingdom is part of the larger outbreak of human mpox caused by the West African clade (type) of the monkeypox virus. The United Kingdom was the first country, outside of the endemic African areas, to experience an outbreak. , there were 2,208 confirmed cases in the United Kingdom, with 2,115 in England, 54 in Scotland, 24 in Wales, and 15 in Northern Ireland.

Background

An ongoing outbreak of mpox was confirmed on 6 May 2022, beginning with a British resident who, after travelling to Nigeria (where the disease is endemic), presented symptoms consistent with mpox on 29 April 2022. The resident returned to the United Kingdom on 4 May, creating the country's index case of the outbreak. The origin of several of the cases of mpox in the United Kingdom is unknown. Some monitors saw community transmission taking place in the London area as of mid-May, but it has been suggested that cases were already spreading in Europe in the previous months.

Transmission

A large portion of those infected were believed to have not recently traveled to areas of Africa where mpox is normally found, such as Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as

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and western Africa. It is believed to be transmitted by close contact with sick people, with extra caution for those individuals with lesions on their skin or genitals, along with their bedding and clothing. The CDC has also stated that individuals should avoid contact and consumption of dead animals such as rats, squirrels, monkeys and apes along with wild game or lotions derived from animals in Africa. In addition to more common symptoms, such as fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes or lesions, some patients have also experienced

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, an inflammation of the rectum lining. CDC has also warned clinicians to not rule out mpox in patients with sexually transmitted infections since there have been reports of co-infections with

syphilis Syphilis () is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium ''Treponema pallidum'' subspecies ''pallidum''. The signs and symptoms of syphilis vary depending in which of the four stages it presents (primary, secondary, latent, an ...

, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and herpes.

History

The first known case was detected in the beginning of May 2022, in a British resident who had travelled to Lagos and Delta State in Nigeria, in areas where mpox is considered to be an endemic disease. The person developed a rash on 29 April while in Nigeria and flew back to the United Kingdom, arriving on 4 May, and presented to hospital later the same day. Mpox infection was immediately suspected, and the patient was hospitalised at Guy's Hospital and isolated, then tested positive for the virus on 6 May. In late May, cases started to be reported in the other constituent countries, with Public Health Scotland reporting its first case on 23 May. Public Health Wales and the Public Health Agency of Northern Ireland each reported one case on 26 May. On 1 June, a case was reported in

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, a

British Overseas Territory The British Overseas Territories (BOTs), also known as the United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs), are fourteen dependent territory, territories with a constitutional and historical link with the United Kingdom. They are the last remna ...

. On 30 August 2022, 3413 cumulative cases (3,279 confirmed and 134 highly probable cases) of human mpox up to (and including) 29 August were reported for the UK.

UK cumulative and weekly cases

* (*) total cases = confirmed and highly probable cases * cases up to and including day d (Monday) are reported and hence ref. the next day * Ref: (common access date 19 February 2023) ** Jun
21st24th28th
** Jul
1st5th8th12th15th19th22nd26th
** Augus
2nd9th16th23rd30th
** Septembe
6th13th20th27th
** Octobe
4th11th18th25th
** Novembe
1st8th15th22nd29th
** Decembe
6th13th20th

Responses

On 22 May, Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said "we're taking it very, very seriously" and that the UK government had already started purchasing smallpox vaccines. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) advised people who have had close contact with a person infected with mpox to self-isolate for 21 days. Self-isolation is not mandatory. Furthermore, to combat the continued spread of the outbreak, the UKHSA has offered doses of the Imvanex smallpox vaccine, also effective against mpox, to people having had close contact with people confirmed to having been infected. On 30 May, the four main public health agencies published a consensus statement describing the principles they will put in use, with the aim of limiting community transmission.

Number of cases confirmed in constituent countries

Notes

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:2022-2023 mpox outbreak in the United Kingdom United Kingdom

Mpox Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is an infectious viral disease that can occur in humans and some other animals. Symptoms include a rash that forms blisters and then crusts over, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. The illness is usually mild ...