Nigerian diagnosed with monkeypox causes concern in UK
The first case of Monkeypox was recorded in the United Kingdom last Friday, courtesy of a Nigerian national staying in Cornwall.
According to Guardian UK, the infected Nigerian who is believed to have contracted the infection in Nigeria before travelling to the UK, was transferred to the infectious disease unit at the Royal Free hospital in London on Saturday morning.
The Public Health England said in a statement that as a precaution, “those who have been in close proximity are being contacted to ensure that if they do become unwell they can be treated quickly.
It also said it is working with experts in the NHS to contact a number of people who were on the same flight as the patient. The body has, however, not revealed the identity of the patient.
Monkeypox does not spread easily and most patients recover within a few weeks, but it can cause severe illness in some people.
A clinical director of infection at the Royal Free, Dr Michael Jacobs said monkeypox is, in most cases, a mild condition which will resolve on its own and have no long-term effects on a person’s health.
“It is a rare disease caused by the monkeypox virus and has been reported mainly in central and west African countries. It does not spread easily between people and the risk of transmission to the wider public is very low.
“We are using strict isolation procedures in the hospital to protect our staff and patients,” he said.
