The UK health and safety agency said in a statement on the 18th that there were two more cases of human monkeypox infection in the country (hereinafter referred to as monkeypox cases). At present, a total of 9 cases have been confirmed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed on the 18th that the United States had its first case of monkeypox this year. The World Health Organization said that night that more monkeypox cases were likely to occur in the UK.
Electron microscopic images showed monkeypox virus
The UK health and Safety Authority said on the same day that the two new cases of monkeypox came from London and southeast England respectively. From May 6 to 15, seven cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in the UK. The recent cases found in the country have not traveled to countries where monkeypox is prevalent, and the infection may be transmitted through the community.
Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser to the health and safety authority, said the situation was "rare and unusual" and "these latest cases and case reports from European countries confirm our initial concern that monkeypox may spread in the community".
The WHO released a communique on the 18th related to monkeypox cases in the UK, saying that the source of infection of these cases has not been confirmed. According to the known information, the infection seems to have occurred in the UK. At present, the transmission degree of monkeypox virus in the UK is unclear, and more cases may be found. The agency recommended that the UK continue to strengthen public health measures.
According to media reports, Portugal, Spain and the United States have also recently reported confirmed or suspected cases of monkeypox. As of the 18th, Portugal has reported 5 confirmed cases of monkeypox and 15 suspected cases; Spain has reported more than 20 suspected cases. All of these infected persons are male.
Screenshot of CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed on the 18th that there was a case of monkeypox in Massachusetts. The adult man infected with monkeypox recently traveled to Canada. US media reported that this was the first case of monkeypox confirmed in the United States in 2022.
The CDC said it was working with the Massachusetts public health department to investigate the case. The CDC urged U.S. medical institutions to pay close attention to patients with skin rashes suspected of monkeypox, whether they have a relevant travel history or whether they are at high risk of monkeypox infection.
Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease. Monkeypox virus can be transmitted from animals to people through close contact. Although it is not easy to spread from person to person, it may also be infected in close contact with infected persons. The initial symptoms of monkeypox infection include fever, headache, muscle soreness, back pain, swollen lymph nodes and so on. Later, it can develop into a large-scale rash on the face and body. Most infected people recover within a few weeks, but others are seriously ill.
Who pointed out that monkeypox virus has West African evolutionary branch and Congo Basin (Central Africa) evolutionary branch. According to records, the mortality of the West African branch of the virus is about 1%, and the mortality of its Congo Basin branch may be as high as 10%. Monkeypox infection during pregnancy may lead to complications, congenital monkeypox or stillbirth. Although vaccines and specific therapies have been approved for the treatment of monkeypox, they have not been widely used.
Congo (DRC) discovered the first human case of monkeypox infection in 1970. According to the NHS website, monkeypox is mainly transmitted by wild animals in parts of West or central Africa, and the risk of infection in the UK is very low. The agency recommends that when traveling in West and Central Africa, the risk of monkeypox infection can be reduced by washing hands with soap and eating thoroughly cooked meat.