A message from our Contraception and Sexual Health Services (CASH) regarding Monkeypox You are here: Home » News Detail
6th June 2022
A message from our Contraception and Sexual Health Services (CASH) regarding Monkeypox
There has been an increased number of people in the UK with Monkeypox. Monkeypox is spread through close contact with an infected person and any individual can get it.
How it is transmitted
Spread of monkeypox may occur following close contact with an infected animal, human, or materials contaminated with the virus. The virus enters the body through broken skin (even if not visible), the respiratory tract, or the mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth).
Person-to-person spread is uncommon, but may occur through:
• contact with clothing or linens (such as bedding or towels) used by an infected person • direct contact with monkeypox skin lesions or scabs – including sexual spread, which appears to be a factor in many but not all of the recent cases in the UK • coughing or sneezing of an individual with a monkeypox rash
The incubation period is 5-21 days and typically it is a mild self-limiting infection. Within 1-5 days a rash develops: often beginning on the face or genital area then spreading to other parts of the body. The rash changes and goes through different before finally forming a scab which later falls off. Children or immunocompromised adults, or pregnant women, may have a more serious illness An individual is contagious until all the scabs have fallen off and there is intact skin underneath. The scabs may contain infectious virus material.
If you suspect you have any symptoms of monkeypox (including a rash, blisters, high temperature, swollen glands etc), call 111. If you have a rash, blisters or sores on your genital area call The Wolverton Sexual health Clinic contact details via www.sexualhealthkingston.co.uk. Please do not walk into any healthcare setting if you have symptoms.