An ongoing outbreak of monkeypox 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 monkeypox on 29 April 2022. The resident returned to the United Kingdom on 4 May, creating the country's index case of the outbreak.[4] Monkeypox is a viral infection that manifests a week or two after exposure with fever and other non-specific symptoms, and then produces a rash that can last for a couple of weeks before usually clearing up.[4]
The origin of several of the cases of monkeypox in the United Kingdom is unknown. Some monitors
saw community transmission taking place in the London area as of mid-May.[5] Further initial cases of the virus were reported in North East and South East England,[6] as well as one in Scotland.[7] From May 18th onwards, cases were reported from an increasing number of countries and regions: Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East and Australia
Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus that can occur in certain animals, including humans. Symptoms begin with fever, headache, muscle pains, swollen lymph nodes, and feeling tired.[11] This is followed by a rash that forms blisters and crusts over.[11] The time from exposure to onset of symptoms is usually 7 to 14 days.[11] The duration of symptoms is typically two to four weeks.[11]
Monkeypox may be spread from handling bushmeat, an animal bite or scratch, body fluids, contaminated objects, or close contact with an infected person.[12] The virus normally circulates among certain rodents.[12] Diagnosis can be confirmed by testing a lesion for the virus's DNA.[13] The disease can appear similar to chickenpox.[14]
The smallpox vaccine can prevent infection with 85% effectiveness.[13][15] In 2019, a monkeypox vaccine, Jynneos, was approved for adults in the United States.[16] The current standard for treatment is tecovirimat, an antiviral that is specifically intended to treat infections with orthopoxviruses such as smallpox and monkeypox. It is approved for the treatment of monkeypox in the European Union[17] and the United States. Cidofovir or brincidofovir may also be useful.[14][18] Reports of the risk of death, if untreated, are as high as 10% to 11% in the Congo Basin (Central African) clade of monkeypox.[11][19][20]
This outbreak is of the West African clade, which has a reported case fatality rate of 1% according to the World Health Organization.[21]
Monkeypox is endemic to West and Central Africa.[22][23] Prior to the 2022 outbreak, the United Kingdom had recorded only seven previous cases of monkeypox,all of which were imported cases from Africa or healthcare workers involved in their treatment. The first three such cases were in 2018 followed by a further case in 2019
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