With more than 300 confirmed cases a month after the outbreak began, the United Kingdom has the second-largest number of monkeypox cases behind Africa. Over 700 instances of the virus have been discovered so far, with numerous more suspected cases in over 20 nations. According to the World Health Organization, the virus spreads when people come into close contact with an infected individual.
The latest information on the monkeypox epidemic is as follows:
- Monkeypox has been declared as a ‘notifiable infectious illness’ by the UK health security agency, following the discovery of more than 300 instances of the disease in the nation. As a result of the disease’s categorization, clinicians in England will be required to notify local authorities whenever they believe a patient has the virus. “Rapid diagnosis and reporting is the crucial to preventing transmission and controlling any further spread of monkeypox,” Wendi Shepherd, monkeypox incident director at UKHSA, said in a statement. According to the report, “this new legislation will assist us and our health partners in quickly identifying, treating, and controlling the condition.”
- Due to a large epidemic of monkeypox in the UK, the country’s reporting requirements are being tightened. According to media, the country is speeding up data collecting and processing, which will aid officials in detecting dangerous outbreaks and tracing contacts quickly, as well as providing immunizations when necessary.
- Canada has issued a travel warning for monkeypox, encouraging travelers from more than two dozen countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, to take measures. In its level 2 alert, Canada also warned of possible delays in people returning home if they became unwell.
- To reduce “confusion” about the disease, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has withdrawn a mask suggestion from its monkeypox travel warning. Previously, the FDA advised travelers to wear a mask to protect themselves from “various infections, including monkeypox.”
- On Tuesday, a five-year-old boy from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, who had been suspected of having monkeypox, tested negative. After the youngster complained of itching and rashes all over his body, the sample was sent for testing.
