Monkeypox Posted or Updated on 8 Sep 2023

The UK Health Security Agency has confirmed that cases of monkeypox have increased recently but the risk to the UK population remains low.

Anyone can get monkeypox. Currently most cases have been in men who are gay, bisexual or have sex with men, so it's particularly important to be aware of the symptoms if you're in these groups. Contact a sexual health clinic if you have a rash with blisters and either:

• you've 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
• you've been to west or central Africa in the past 3 weeks

If you have an unexplained rash, please contact NHS111 or phone the practice to make an appointment. Further public information is available on www.nhs.uk/conditions/monkeypox