What is monkeypox? Second person diagnosed with deadly virus

The first ever cases of monkeypox in the UK have been recorded in the past week. So what is the deadly virus? What are the symptoms. And are you at risk?

Monkeypox, a rare virus, which health experts estimate is deadly in 10 percent of cases, was first diagnosed in England on Friday (September 7).

According to Public Health England (PHE), the patient—a Nigerian national—was visiting a naval base in Cornwall at the time.

Following his diagnosis, he was taken to a specialist unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London.

And, on Tuesday (September 11), the the second ever recorded case of monkeypox was recorded when a person, who had visited Nigeria, was diagnosed with the disease at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

They have since been moved to Royal Liverpool University Hospital, where there is an expert respiratory infectious disease centre,  for treatment.

Nick Phin, deputy director of the National Infection Service at PHE, said that “sporadic cases” of monkeypox have been reported since there was a “large sustained outbreak” of the virus in September 2017 in Nigeria.

“It is likely that monkeypox continues to circulate in Nigeria and could, therefore, affect travellers who are returning from this part of the world,” Phin added.

“However, it is very unusual to see 2 cases in such a relatively short space of time. We are working hard to contact individuals, including healthcare workers, that might have come into contact with the individual to provide information and health advice.”

Both hospitals are using quarantine and isolation methods in a bid to stop the virus from spreading to staff and patients.

PHE has said it believes the two patients contracted monkeypox in Nigeria.