UK issues guidance to tackle monkeypox transmission
Health authorities in Britain issued new guidance to control the spread of the monkeypox virus in the country.
The guidance, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) as well as its counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, sets out measures for healthcare professionals and the public for managing the disease.
They also set up ways of preventing further transmission as community transmission is occurring here in the UK and other countries.
Latest official figures show there are now more than 100 confirmed cases in Britain.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said globally there are 257 cases confirmed and 120 suspected cases in 23 countries where the virus is not endemic.
Included in the new guidance is for people to abstain from having sex while symptomatic with monkeypox.
“There is currently no available evidence of monkeypox in genital excretions. But as a precaution, cases are advised to use condoms for eight weeks after infection,” the guidance stated. “People who have possible, probable or confirmed monkeypox are to isolate at home, if they remain well enough. Contacts of someone with monkeypox will also be risk assessed and will isolate for 21 days if necessary.”
Guidance has also been issued to doctors, nurses and health staff detailing the minimum recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff working with confirmed cases.
UKHSA said it had also purchased over 20,000 doses of a safe smallpox vaccine, which are being offered to identify close contacts of people diagnosed with monkeypox to reduce the risk of symptomatic infection and severe illness.
“This new monkeypox guidance sets out important measures for healthcare professionals and the public for managing the disease including how to safely isolate at home and reduce the risk to others,” Ruth Milton, Senior Medical Advisor and monkeypox Strategic Response Director at UKHSA said. “The highest risk of the highest risk of transmission is through direct contact with someone with monkeypox. The risk to the UK population remains low.”
(Xinhua/NAN)
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