Monkeypox is a rare infection originating in Africa. There are two variants of monkeypox, one variant from west Africa, another from central Africa. The variant currently in circulation in the UK is the least deadly form of the disease, the west African variant. Currently scientists and doctors are working out ways to combat monkeypox and limit its spread.
Monkeypox has not just spread in and around the UK, it has also made its way onto mainland Europe.
Countries such as Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain have all reported cases, so too have countries further away from Europe such as the United States and Australia.
Such is the speed with which monkeypox has spread, the World Health Organisation has released a statement about the outbreak.
They describe how monkeypox is transmitted “from one person to another by close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets, respiratory droplets, and contaminated materials such as bedding”.
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The most visibly obvious sign of monkeypox is a rash, this will normally appear one to five days after the first symptoms say the NHS.
They add: “The rash often begins on the face, then spreads to other parts of the body. This can include the genitals.”
Unlike COVID-19, the west African variant of monkeypox spreading in the UK isn’t deadly.
Most people recover within a few weeks of symptoms arising.
The UK has one of the highest numbers of detected cases, with 101 confirmed cases as of the 27th May.
In response to the rise, patients with monkeypox have been advised to self-isolate for 21 days as a precaution.
Monkeypox patients have also been advised not to touch household pets while self-isolating as these animals could then spread the virus.
Although the rise of monkeypox is unnerving, the likelihood of getting the condition is incredibly low.