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The 2022 monkeypox outbreak in the United Kingdom is a part of the outbreak of human monkeypox caused by the West African clade of the monkeypox virus. The United Kingdom was the first country, outside of the endemic African areas, to experience an outbreak.

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 monkeypox 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. Monkeypox 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.

Government response

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 monkeypox to self-isolate for 21 days. Self-isolation is not mandatory.

Furthermore, to combat the continued spread of the pandemic, the UKHSA purchased doses of the Imvanex smallpox vaccine, also effective against monkeypox, to be given 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.

References

1. "Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates". UK Health Security Agency. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
2. "Monkeypox – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". World Health Organization. 16 May 2022. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
3. ^ "Monkeypox contact tracing extended to Scotland". BBC News. 14 May 2022. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
4. ^ "Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates". Gov.uk. Retrieved 02 June 2022. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
5. "UK Confirms Local Transmission of Monkeypox". Eyewitness News (South Africa). Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
6. Taylor, Chloe (2022-05-23). "People coming into contact with monkeypox are now being advised to quarantine for 3 weeks". Fortune. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
7. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/principles-for-monkeypox-control-in-the-uk-4-nations-consensus-statement/principles-for-monkeypox-control-in-the-uk-4-nations-consensus-statement