Monkeypox cases rise by 50 in UK, health bosses announce

The UK Health Security Agency has detected 50 additional cases of monkeypox in the UK.

The UKHSA said 46 additional cases of the disease had been recorded in England, along with three additional cases in Scotland and one in Wales.

This brings the total number confirmed in the UK to 574, as of June 16.

There are currently 550 confirmed cases in England, 16 in Scotland, two in Northern Ireland and six in Wales.

According to the World Health Organization, monkeypox transmission is being driven by skin-to-skin contact and skin-to-mouth contact, and there is no evidence of a change in the virus.

WHO said some 1,160 confirmed cases have been reported in 22 countries in the European Economic Area.

Most cases are mild but WHO said it had seen some complications, and some admissions to hospital.

The UKHSA advises that anyone with a rash with blisters should contact a sexual health clinic if they have also had close contact, including sexual contact, with someone who has or might have had monkeypox in the past three weeks, or if they have travelled to West or Central Africa in the past three weeks.

Yvonne Doyle, medical director for public health at the NHS in England, said she was "not worried about monkeypox".

She told the NHS ConfedExpo conference: "I'm not worried about monkeypox because we have a very good group of people advising the country about it.

"They are really on the ball and they are giving out clear and honest authentic information.

"As always, the health protection service is looking after its population in the best possible way."