Global Outbreak Update: Laboratory-confirmed case of monkeypox in the UK

The UK notified the WHO of a PCR-confirmed monkeypox case on a patient that lived and worked in Delta State, Nigeria. A second case was confirmed on 31 May 2021.

• Update Date: 11 June 2021
   
• Time frame and cases: The patient arrived in the United Kingdom on 8 May 2021 and remained in quarantine with family for COVID-19 restrictions. On 10 May 2021, the patient developed a rash, beginning on the face. The patient remained in self-isolation for a further ten days and sought medical care. On 23 May 2021 the patient was admitted to a referral hospital. On 24 May 2021 skin lesion samples were received at the Public Health England Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory. On 25 May 2021 the West African clade of monkeypox virus was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). On the same day, 25 May 2021, the UK notified the WHO of one laboratory-confirmed case of monkeypox. On 29 May 2021, a family member with whom the patient quarantined developed lesions clinically compatible with monkeypox and was immediately isolated in an appropriate facility. On 31 May 2021 monkeypox was confirmed for the second case. Both patients are stable and recovering.
   
• Regions: Prior to travel, the patient had lived and worked in Delta State, Nigeria.
   
• Virus / Vector / Disease Information: Monkeypox is a sylvatic zoonosis with incidental human infections that usually occur sporadically in forested parts of Central and West Africa. It is caused by the monkeypox virus and belongs to the Orthopoxvirus family.
   
• Response: 1. UK health authorities activated an incident management team and implemented public health measures, including isolation of the index case and secondary case and contact tracing. 2. Follow up is being undertaken for the contacts of the two cases for 21 days after their last exposure. 3. Information was shared with the Nigerian National IHR Focal Point who have initiated an outbreak investigation.
   
• Recommendations:  1. Residents and travelers to endemic countries should avoid contact with sick, dead or live animals that could harbor monkeypox virus (rodents, marsupials, primates) and should refrain from eating or handling wild game (bush meat). 2. The importance of hand hygiene using soap and water, or alcohol-based sanitizer should be emphasized. 3. Health-care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed monkeypox should implement standard, contact and droplet infection control precautions.

More information on this update here. For more information about the disease,including latest news, research, fact sheets and training, please visit the dedicated WHO Monkeypox Portal.

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