2022–2023 mpox outbreak in the united kingdom 2022–2023 mpox outbreak in the united kingdom the 2022–2023 mpox outbreak in the united kingdom is part of the larger outbreak of human mpox caused by the west african clade (type) of the monkeypox virus. the united kingdom was the first country, outside of the endemic african areas, to experience an outbreak. as of 22 july 2022, there were 2,208 confirmed cases in the united kingdom, with 2,115 in england, 54 in scotland, 24 in wales, and 15 in northern ireland. 2022–2023 mpox outbreak in the united kingdomconfirmed cases by countries in the united kingdom during the 2022 outbreak (as of 12 july) 101–1,660 26–100 1–25 diseasempoxvirus strainmonkeypox virus (west african clade)locationunited kingdomindex caselondonarrival date6 may 2022(1 year and 1 week ago)dateas of 29 august 2022confirmed cases3,279 (and 134 highly probable cases)deaths0government websiteuk government background the first three paragraphs an excerpt from mpox. mpox (pronounced /ˈɛmpɒks/ em-poks, formerly known as monkeypox) is an infectious viral disease that can occur in humans and some other animals. symptoms include a rash that forms blisters and then crusts over, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. the time from exposure to onset of symptoms ranges from five to twenty-one days and symptoms typically last from two to four weeks. there may be mild symptoms, and it may occur without any symptoms being apparent. cases may be severe, especially in children, pregnant women or people with suppressed immune systems. the disease is caused by the monkeypox virus, a zoonotic virus in the genus orthopoxvirus. the variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox, is also in this genus. of the two types (called "clades") in humans, clade ii (formerly west african clade) causes a less severe disease than the central african (congo basin) type. it may spread from infected animals by handling infected meat or via bites or scratches. human-to-human transmission can occur through exposure to infected body fluids or contaminated objects, by small droplets, and possibly through the airborne route. people can spread the virus from the onset of symptoms until all the lesions have scabbed and fallen off; with some evidence of spread for more than a week after lesions have crusted. diagnosis can be confirmed by testing a lesion for the virus's dna. there is no known cure. a study in 1988 found that the smallpox vaccine was around 85% protective in preventing infection in close contacts and in lessening the severity of the disease. a newer smallpox and mpox vaccine based on modified vaccinia ankara has been approved, but with limited availability. other measures include regular hand washing and avoiding sick people and animals. antiviral drugs, cidofovir and tecovirimat, vaccinia immune globulin and the smallpox vaccine may be used during outbreaks. the illness is usually mild and most of those infected will recover within a few weeks without treatment. estimates of the risk of death vary from 1% to 10%, although few deaths as a consequence of mpox have been recorded since 2017. an ongoing outbreak of mpox was confirmed on 6 may 2022, beginning with a british resident who, after travelling to nigeria (where the disease is endemic), presented symptoms consistent with mpox on 29 april 2022. the resident returned to the united kingdom on 4 may, creating the country's index case of the outbreak. the origin of several of the cases of mpox in the united kingdom is unknown. some monitors saw community transmission taking place in the london area as of mid-may, but it has been suggested that cases were already spreading in europe in the previous months. transmission stages of lesion development. a large portion of those infected were believed to have not recently traveled to areas of africa where mpox is normally found, such as nigeria, the democratic republic of the congo as well as central and western africa. it is believed to be transmitted by close contact with sick people, with extra caution for those individuals with lesions on their skin or genitals, along with their bedding and clothing. the cdc has also stated that individuals should avoid contact and consumption of dead animals such as rats, squirrels, monkeys and apes along with wild game or lotions derived from animals in africa. in addition to more common symptoms, such as fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes or lesions, some patients have also experienced proctitis, an inflammation of the rectum lining. cdc has also warned clinicians to not rule out mpox in patients with sexually transmitted infections since there have been reports of co-infections with syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and herpes. history mpox cases in the united kingdom () deaths confirmed casesmaymayjunjunjuljullast 15 dayslast 15 days datecases (rise)deaths (rise) 2022-05-061(n.a.) 2022-05-071(=) 2022-05-081(=) 2022-05-091(=) 2022-05-101(=) 2022-05-111(=) 2022-05-121(=) 2022-05-131(=) 2022-05-143(+2) 2022-05-153(=) 2022-05-167(+4) 2022-05-177(=) 2022-05-189(+2) 2022-05-199(=) 2022-05-2020(+11) 2022-05-2120(=) 2022-05-2256(+36) 2022-05-2371(+15) 2022-05-2478(+7) 2022-05-2590(+12) 2022-05-26106(+16) 2022-05-27106(=) 2022-05-28106(=) 2022-05-29106(=) 2022-05-30179(+73) 2022-05-31190(+11) 2022-06-01197(+7) 2022-06-02208(+11) 2022-06-03227(+19) 2022-06-04227(=) 2022-06-05227(=) 2022-06-06303(+76) 2022-06-07322(+19) 2022-06-08322(=) 2022-06-09366(+44) 2022-06-10366(=) 2022-06-11366(=) 2022-06-12471(+105) 2022-06-13471(=) 2022-06-14524(+53) 2022-06-15524(=) 2022-06-16574(+50) 2022-06-17574(=) 2022-06-18574(=) 2022-06-19574(=) 2022-06-20574(=) 2022-06-21793(+219) 2022-06-22793(=) 2022-06-23793(=) 2022-06-24910(+117) 2022-06-25910(=) 2022-06-26910(=) 2022-06-27910(=) 2022-06-281,076(+166) 2022-06-291,076(=) 2022-06-301,076(=) 2022-07-011,235(+159) 2022-07-021,235(=) 2022-07-031,235(=) 2022-07-041,235(=) 2022-07-051,351(+116) 2022-07-061,351(=) 2022-07-071,351(=) 2022-07-081,552(+201) the first known case was detected in the beginning of may 2022, in a british resident who had travelled to lagos and delta state in nigeria, in areas where mpox is considered to be an endemic disease. the person developed a rash on 29 april while in nigeria and flew back to the united kingdom, arriving on 4 may, and presented to hospital later the same day. mpox infection was immediately suspected, and the patient was hospitalised at guy's hospital and isolated, then tested positive for the virus on 6 may. in late may, cases started to be reported in the other constituent countries, with public health scotland reporting its first case on 23 may. public health wales and the public health agency of northern ireland each reported one case on 26 may. on 1 june, a case was reported in gibraltar, a british overseas territory. on 30 august 2022, 3413 cumulative cases (3,279 confirmed and 134 highly probable cases) of human mpox up to (and including) 29 august were reported for the uk. uk cumulative and weekly cases (*) total cases = confirmed and highly probable cases cases up to and including day d (monday) are reported and hence ref. the next day ref: (common access date 19 february 2023) june 21st, 24th, 28th july 1st, 5th, 8th, 12th, 15th, 19th, 22nd, 26th august 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th september 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th october 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th november 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th december 6th, 13th, 20th responses on 22 may, education secretary nadhim zahawi said "we're taking it very, very seriously" and that the uk government had already started purchasing smallpox vaccines. the uk health security agency (ukhsa) advised people who have had close contact with a person infected with mpox to self-isolate for 21 days. self-isolation is not mandatory. furthermore, to combat the continued spread of the outbreak, the ukhsa has offered doses of the imvanex smallpox vaccine, also effective against mpox, to people having had close contact with people confirmed to having been infected. on 30 may, the four main public health agencies published a consensus statement describing the principles they will put in use, with the aim of limiting community transmission. number of cases confirmed in constituent countries cases of mpox constituent country case(s) northern ireland 15 scotland 54 wales 24 england 2,115 total 2,208