UK officials say that the number of monkeypox cases may have reached its peak

More On: Monkeypox

On Friday, British health officials said that the spread of monkeypox across the country may have reached its peak and that the rate of growth has slowed.

In a statement, the U.K.'s Health Security Agency said there were "early signs that the outbreak is leveling off." Since May, 2,859 cases have been found. No one has died, as far as we know. Last month, officials said that the size of the outbreak was doubling about every two weeks, but the number of new infections has gone down in the last few weeks.

UK: 'First signs' monkeypox outbreak may reach peak | WGN 720 Radio
"The most recent data show that the spread of the outbreak has slowed," said Dr. Meera Chand, Director of Clinical and Emerging Infections at the Health Security Agency. "But that doesn't mean we can relax," she added. She said that if you think you might have monkeypox, you shouldn't hang out with friends, go to parties, or have sexual contact.

prairie dog cells. — The disease is believed to be transmitted between gay and bisexual men, making more than 70% of the cases in the U.K.

The Health Security Agency said that the most recent analysis of the outbreak "shows that monkeypox is still mostly spread through interconnected sexual networks of gay, bisexual, or straight men who have sex with other men." More than 70% of all cases in the UK happen in London.

The Health Security Agency said that the most recent analysis of the outbreak "shows that monkeypox is still mostly spread through interconnected sexual networks of gay, bisexual, or straight men who have sex with other men." More than 70% of all cases in the UK happen in London.

Vaccines. — Though it’s still a rare disease, the NHS is expanding its monkeypox vaccine rollout in London as monkeypox cases continue to increase in the capital.

This week, the World Health Organization said that sex is likely how 92 percent of monkeypox cases outside of Africa were spread, and its Director-General recently asked gay and bisexual men who are vulnerable to cut back on their sexual partners "for the moment."

More than 26,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported so far in almost 90 countries. This is a 19% increase from the last week.

In June, British officials expanded their vaccination plan to include some gay or bisexual men who are at a high risk of getting the virus, such as those who have multiple sexual partners or participate in group sex.

The UK health building. — The U.K.’s Health Security Agency recommends those who had direct contact with a confirmed monkeypox case or a high-risk contact should isolate for 21 days.

Last month, the U.K. changed how serious it thought the monkeypox outbreak was and stopped recommending that people who had contact with people who had monkeypox stay away from them for three weeks if they don't have symptoms. The change was made because data showed that only a small number of people who come in contact with monkeypox end up getting sick, and there was no proof that the disease spreads without close, intimate, or sexual contact.

Last month, WHO said that the outbreak of monkeypox was a global emergency. On Thursday, the U.S. said that the outbreak was a national emergency.

People get monkeypox when they come into close contact with a person's sores, their clothes, or their bedsheets. Most people get better without treatment, but the lesions can be very painful, and in the worst cases, they can lead to encephalitis or even death.

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