Don't let monkeypox spoil your Pride celebrations

Local residents are being urged to be aware of the symptoms of monkeypox ahead of Manchester Pride this weekend.

Although more people have been diagnosed with it recently, only a small number of people in the UK have had monkeypox and the risk remains low.

Locally, the number of people infected remains in the single digits, whilst around 130 people across the 10 Greater Manchester regions have been infected. There are more than 2,700 cases UK-wide.

Whilst anyone can get monkeypox, 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.

If you get infected with monkeypox, it usually takes between 5 and 21 days for the first symptoms to appear.

 

 

Monkeypox can be passed on from person to person through:

• Any close physical contact with monkeypox blisters or scabs (including during sexual contact, kissing, cuddling, or holding hands).
• Touching clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with monkeypox.
• The coughs or sneezes of a person with monkeypox when they're close to you.

Common signs and symptoms of monkeypox include:

• A fever
• Headaches
• Muscle aches
• Exhaustion
• Swollen lymph nodes
• A new rash which appears one to five days after the first symptoms

The rash can be confused with chickenpox, as it starts as raised spots, which turn into small blisters filled with fluid. These blisters eventually form scabs which later fall off.

The rash often begins on the face, then spreads to other parts of the body. This can include the mouth, genitals and anus.

You may also have anal pain or bleeding from your bottom.

 

 

It is recommended that if you have symptoms, take a break from all intimate contact (including kissing) until you’ve got the all-clear from your doctor. If you’re recovering from monkeypox infection, remember to use condoms for 12 weeks as a precaution.

Keep yourself and others safe:

• Clean your hands regularly with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
• Know the symptoms if you’re sexually active, especially with new partners. Talk to partners about their sexual health and remember symptoms can take three weeks to develop, so keep checking yourself.
• Swap contact details if hooking up with someone new.

Dr William Welfare, Incident Director at UKHSA, said: While the most recent data suggests the growth of the outbreak has slowed, we continue to see new cases every day.

“While anyone can get monkeypox, the majority of monkeypox cases in the UK continue to be in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, with the infection being passed on mainly through close contact in interconnected sexual networks.

“Please continue to be aware of symptoms, including rashes and blisters, particularly if you have recently had a new sexual partner.”

Call a sexual health clinic if:

• You have a rash with blisters, anal pain or bleeding from your bottom and have either:
• been in close contact, including sexual contact, with someone who has or might have monkeypox (even if they've not been tested yet) in the past 3 weeks
• had 1 or more new sexual partners in the past 3 weeks
• been to west or central Africa in the past 3 weeks

Stay at home and avoid close contact with other people, including sharing towels or bedding, until you've been told what to do.

Call the clinic before visiting and tell the person you speak to if you've had close contact with someone who has or might have monkeypox, or if you've recently travelled to central or west Africa.

Stay at home and call 111 for advice if you're not able to contact a sexual health clinic.