Minimal risk of monkeypox transmission in UK following confirmed case

A young man shows his hands during an outbreak of monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (file)

Risk of monkeypox transmission in the United Kingdom is minimal following a confirmed case of the rare and sometimes fatal animal-bourne disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday. 

On 7 May, UK health authorities notified WHO of the confirmed case in an individual who had recently returned to the country from Nigeria. 

Monkeypox is a viral disease that occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa.  It is occasionally exported to other regions. 

Modes of transmission 

The monkeypox virus is mostly transmitted to people from wild animals such as rodents and primates, though human-to-human transmission also occurs.   

The disease typically presents with fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes. 

Contact with live and dead animals – for example through hunting and consumption of wild game or bush meat – are known risk factors. 

The Palace of Westminster and central London, as seen from across the River Thames.

Extensive contact tracing 

WHO said the case travelled to Nigeria in late April, staying in Lagos and Delta states, and developed a rash on 29 April. 

They returned to the UK on 4 May and went to a hospital that same day. As monkeypox was suspected, they were immediately isolated.  

Extensive contact tracing has identified exposed persons in the community, the healthcare setting, and on the international flight.  So far, none has reported compatible symptoms. 

“Since the case was immediately isolated and contact tracing was performed, the risk of onward transmission related to this case in the United Kingdom is minimal. However, as the source of infection in Nigeria is not known, there remains a risk of ongoing transmission in this country,” the UN agency said. 

No travel or trade restrictions 

Nigerian authorities were informed about the case on 7 May.  

The individual did not report contact with anyone with a rash illness, or known monkeypox, in Nigeria. Details of travel and contacts within the country have also been shared for follow up as necessary. 

WHO currently does not recommend any restriction for travel to, and trade with, Nigeria or the UK, based on available information at this time. 

More about monkeypox 

The monkeypox virus belongs to the orthopoxvirus family, which includes smallpox. 

It can be transmitted by contact and droplet exposure, and the incubation period is usually from six to 13 days but can range from 5 to 21 days. 

Symptoms can be mild or severe, and usually resolve spontaneously within 14 to 21 days. However, lesions can be very itchy or painful. 

There have been seven cases of monkeypox previously reported in the UK, all of which were related to a travel history to or from Nigeria. 

Two separate cases were also reported in the United States last year, also imported from Nigeria. 

Since September 2017, the West African country has continued to report cases of the disease, with 558 suspected cases up to 30 April of this year.   

The figure includes 241 confirmed cases, including eight deaths from the disease.