The Sun
NEW monkeypox symptoms have been discovered in the UK as cases of the illness continue to rise.
At present there are around 1,235 cases of the bug in the country, with Brits being warned to heed caution at summer events.
In the UK, the majority of the cases have been seen in London – which holds 692 infections.
Now, medics have revealed that patients attending sexual health clinics in the capital are experiencing symptoms that have not been seen in previous outbreaks.
Most people who get the illness will usually have cold and flu like symptoms such as a fever and headache – before a rash appears.
Experts looked at 54 monkeypox patients who tested positive during a 12 day period in May this year.
It’s important to note that most people had mild illness and recovered at home.
There were just five individuals who were admitted to hospital due to pain or infection of the lesions
Dr Ruth Byrne, from the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust added that a quarter of patients also tested positive for gonorrhoea or chlamydia at the same time as the monkeypox infection.
She added: “It is possible that at various stages of the infection monkeypox may mimic common STIs, such as herpes and syphilis, in its presentation.
“It’s important that sexual health clinicians and patients are aware of the symptoms of monkeypox as misdiagnosis of the infection may prevent the opportunity for appropriate intervention and prevention of onward transmission…
