Exeter monkeypox contacts jabbed

Two people vaccinated against similar virus

Two people in Exeter have had a smallpox jab after coming into contact with someone who has monkeypox.

Another of their associates, who lives in Bristol, has also been vaccinated.

Monkeypox is a member of the same family of viruses as smallpox, although much less severe.

South west health bosses are preparing for an increase in cases and have made plans for community testing and potential hospital admissions, although no cases have been confirmed in the region.

Stuart Walker, medical director of University Hospitals Bristol and Weston, said people had been potentially exposed to monkeypox elsewhere, and then had come back to the south west, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

More than a hundred cases have been confirmed in England since the first case at the beginning of May.

A meeting of the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston trust heard on Friday that testing for the virus could take place in sexual health clinics, because of the link with cases.

Professor Walker said: "If we were to have individuals presenting with confirmed monkeypox, or a very probable case, there is a system in place for mostly managing patients in isolation at home.

"There hasn't been an individual yet in the UK who has had a very serious illness with monkeypox, but if admission were required that would currently be to Royal Free (Hospital in London) or Newcastle."

The UK Health Security Agency said monkeypox symptoms include new rashes or lesions on any part of the body, and anybody who develops these symptoms should contact a sexual health clinic immediately, and limit their contact with others.