Monkeypox can be spread via close contact with someone infected
Monkeypox can be spread via close contact with someone infected (Picture: AFP/Reuters)

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has told states to prepare strategies to counter the spread of monkeypox, including vaccination.

In a report published today, the EU organisation said: ‘Countries should update their contact tracing mechanisms, their diagnostic capacity for orthopoxviruses and review the availability of smallpox vaccines, antivirals and personal protective equipment (PPE) for health professionals.’

It advises that government should review the types, doses and authorisation status of vaccines in case they need to be deployed.

The report does not recommend mass vaccination programmes of people not at particular risk, but says that those exposed could be given the jab.

It says that healthcare workers who may be exposed to the virus could also be vaccinated as a precaution.

The report says that people infected ‘should remain isolated until their rash heals completely, avoiding contact with immunosuppressed persons and pets’.

They said that most people should be able to stay isolating at home ‘with supportive care’.

Cases of monkeypox have been found in nine EU Member States: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The disease has also been found in the UK, as well as in Canada, the US (Boston and New York), Australia, Israel and Switzerland.

At the moment, there is no specific approved vaccine, but the vaccine for smallpox is effective.

If the current outbreaks continue to grow, states are likely to have to start rolling out jabs to try and get on top of the spread.

For example, close contacts of those infected could be given the vaccine to give them protection.

The UK has already recommended that close contacts of those with monkeypox could be given a Postexposure Prophylaxis (PEP) vaccine.

This would be the Imvanex vaccine against smallpox, which contains a live modified form of the vaccinia virus called ‘vaccinia Ankara’, which is related to the smallpox virus.

People used to be routinely given a smallpox vaccine, but have not been since it was officially declared eradicated in 1980.

The latest moves are a sign of how seriously health authorities are taking this virus, which is usually not a major concern in Europe.

Today, the government said there have now been 56 confirmed cases in England, up from 20 at the last count, with the first case in Scotland confirmed today.

Since the first case was reported on May 7, from a person who travelled from Nigeria, there have since been dozens more case in the UK, mostly without a connection to this patient or to travel abroad.

Between May 18 and 22, nine EU states reported additional suspected or confirmed cases.

Map showing some of the countries where monkeypox cases have been found this month
Some of the countries where monkeypox cases have been found this month

Initial symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion.

A rash can develop, often beginning on the face, then spreading to other parts of the body including the genitals.

The rash changes and goes through different stages – it can look like chickenpox or syphilis, before finally forming a scab which later falls off.

Most people recover in a few weeks even without treatment, but it can cause serious illness in some people.

Young children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are thought to be particularly affected.

Those who have multiple sexual partners have been warned to be vigilant for monkeypox as it can spread from skin to skin or from touching bedsheets or towels used by someone infected.

Downing Street has said the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is monitoring the disease ‘extremely carefully’.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘The facts we know is that monkeypox is not usually spread easily between people, and the risk to others remains low.

‘A notable portion of early cases detected have been in gay and bisexual men, so the UKHSA is urging this community in particular to be alert.

‘It’s true to say that most people recover within a few weeks.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.