Monkeypox

This page has help, advice and frequently asked questions about Monkeypox. 

What is it?

Monkeypox is a rare disease that is caused by infection. It was first discovered in 1958 and occurs mainly in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa, and it is thought to be spread by infected wild animals.

What are the symptoms of Monkeypox?

  • unusual rashes or lesions on the body such as the face or genital area
  • fever
  • muscle aches
  • chills and exhaustion
  • headaches
  • swollen lymph nodes

The rash starts on the face one to five days after the first symptoms, and spreads to other parts of the body before forming a scab which then falls off. 

How does it spread?

The virus can spread if there is close contact between people through:

  • touching clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with the monkeypox rash
  • touching monkeypox skin blisters or scabs
  • the coughs or sneezes of a person with the monkeypox rash

What do I do if I get it?

The disease is usually mild and most people usually recover within a few weeks without treatment. However, severe illness can occur in some individuals and those with underlying conditions such as severe immunosuppression.

If you think you have monkeypox symptoms, however mild, you should:

  • contact NHS 111 or call a sexual health clinic immediately.
  • avoid close personal or sexual contact with others until you know that this is not monkeypox

Please contact clinics before visiting. Avoid close contact with others until you have been seen by a clinician. Your call or discussion will always be treated sensitively and confidentially

How is it treated?

The smallpox vaccine, cidofovir, and tecovirimat can be used to control outbreaks of monkeypox. Vaccination against smallpox can be used for both pre and post-exposure and is up to 85% effective in preventing monkeypox. People vaccinated against smallpox in childhood may experience a milder disease. 

What if I can’t get help?

Contact Customer Service at The Royal Borough of Greenwich so we can find a way to best help you. 

You can also contact Live Well on 0800 470 4831 for help and day-to-day support. 

Does it impact one group more than another?

Anyone can get monkeypox though currently most cases have been in men who are gay, bisexual or have sex with other men, so it's particularly important to be aware of the symptoms if you're in these groups.

The NHS is contacting people at the highest risk of exposure to monkeypox to come forward for vaccination. Find out more information about the vaccination process. 

Where can I find out more information?

Anyone with concerns that they could be infected should see a health professional but make contact with the clinic or surgery ahead of a visit. NHS 111 can also give advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Monkeypox has not previously been described as a sexually transmitted infection, though it can be passed on by direct contact during sex.

    It can also be passed on through other close contact with a person who has monkeypox or contact with clothing or linens used by a person who has monkeypox.

  • The illness is usually mild and most recover within a few weeks without treatment. High quality medical and nursing supportive care will be provided to individuals to manage symptoms.

  • There are different strains of monkeypox virus in different parts of Africa. The cases confirmed recently in England have been a strain found in West Africa, which is known to be associated with less severe disease. No fatal cases occurred in an outbreak of monkeypox in the USA in 2003 which came from West Africa.

  • There isn't a specific vaccine for monkeypox, but vaccinia (smallpox) vaccine does offer some protection. Some individuals with higher level of exposures are being offered this smallpox vaccine. We have pro-actively procured further doses of these vaccines.

    The disease caused by monkeypox is usually mild and most of those infected will recover within a few weeks without treatment. 

    Anyone can get monkeypox though currently most cases have been in men who are gay, bisexual or have sex with other men, so it's particularly important to be aware of the symptoms if you're in these groups.

  • Monkeypox remains very rare in the UK and the risk to the general public remains low. UKHSA and the NHS have well established and robust infection control procedures for dealing with cases of imported infectious disease and these will be strictly followed.

    Anyone can get monkeypox though currently most cases have been in men who are gay, bisexual or have sex with other men, so it's particularly important to be aware of the symptoms if you're in these groups.

  • Monkeypox remains very rare in the UK. In the majority of previous cases, there were links to countries where the disease is more common. There are currently no known links to recent travel for these recent cases and so we are rapidly investigating where and when transmission may have taken place.

    We closely monitor the prevalence of all infectious diseases and the risk of community transmission of monkeypox in the UK remains extremely low. UKHSA is rapidly investigating the source of these infections because the evidence suggests that there may be transmission of the monkeypox virus in the community, spread by close contact. Detailed contact tracing is ongoing for follow-up of individuals who have come into contact with these cases.