A Nigerian traveller has been linked to a rare viral monkeypox infection discovered by the English health authorities, it was reported on Saturday.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said in a statement that the case of a person who had recently travelled to Nigeria, was being treated at an expert respiratory infectious disease unit at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London.
“It is important to emphasise that monkeypox does not spread easily between people and the overall risk to the general public is very low,” said Colin Brown, director of clinical and emerging infections at UKHSA.
Monkeypox is a rare viral infection similar to human smallpox, which was eradicated in 1980. Although monkeypox is much milder than smallpox, with most infected people recovering within a few weeks, it can in rare cases be fatal.
The Nigerian health authorities have not reported any such case of monkeypox.
