Monkeypox news – live: US releasing monkeypox vaccine from national stockpile for ‘high-risk’ people

Monkeypox cases in Britain have almost tripled as further infections continue to be reported in the United States.

The latest set of figures released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on Monday afternoon confirmed that the number of cases in England is up by 36, bringing the total number of monkeypox cases confirmed since May 7 to 56.

Scotland confirmed its first case on the same day, bringing the total to 57.

Meanwhile in the US there have been reports of monkeypox infections in Utah, New York, Massachusetts and Florida.

It comes as sexual activity at raves in Europe may have sparked the international monkeypox outbreak, a leading advisor to the World Health Organisation has said.

Dr David Heymann, who formerly headed the global public health body’s emergencies department, said the leading theory focussed on sexual transmission at two events in Spain and Belgium.

There have been more than 100 confirmed or suspected monkeypox infections around the world in the current outbreak, which have mostly been in Europe.

Monkeypox latest

• UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) records 36 additional cases of monkeypox

• Two more suspected cases of Monkeypox detected in Utah

• Sexual activity at raves could be behind current global outbreak, WHO advisor says

• PM hasn’t spoken to Whitty about monkeypox, No10 says

• First case confirmed in Scotland

• Superspreader events likely behind global surge in cases, expert says

• UN warns against enabling ‘homophobic and racist’ stereotypes

• High-risk contacts of cases advised to self-isolate in UK

• Latest monkeypox cases tally across the world

US will release monkeypox vaccine from national stockpile for ‘high risk’ people

00:33 , Josh Marcus

As monkeypox cases crop up unexpectedly in countries across the globe, the US is releasing vaccines from the Strategic National Stockpile for “high-risk” patients.

The US has a “good stock” of smallpox vaccines, which are also effective and licensed for treatment against monkeypox, Dr Jennifer McQuiston of the CDC said on Monday.

“I can report that there has been a request for release of the Jynneos vaccine from the National Stockpile for some of the high-risk contacts of some of the early patients, so that is actively happening right now,” she said.

A helpful thread on what we know and don’t know about the monkeypox outbreak

23:50 , Josh Marcus

Have a lot of questions about monkeypox? You’re not alone.

As public health officials around the world analyse what to do next about the unexpected outbreak of the rare disease, this thread by University of St Andrews virologist Muge Cevik is a great place to start.

It has detailed analysis of some basic questions on spread, severity, and what’s new about this outbreak.

Authorities tracking 200-plus contacts for Massachusetts monkeypox patient

23:09 , Josh Marcus

The only confirmed monkeypox case in the US so far was located in Masachusetts, and officials there are tracking more than 200 people who have come into close contact with the man, according to the CDC on Monday.

Most of those are health care workers involved in treating the individiual through the Massachusetts Departments of Public Health.

The patient, who recently visited Canada, where another cluster has been reported, remains isolated in Massachusetts General Hospital.

So far, cases have been reported in the UK, Spain, and Portugal, far outside the normal range of the condition, which is endemic to parts of Africa.

“The CDC worked really quickly to sequence the virus from the Massachusetts patient and within 48 hours, we had determined that it closely matched the sequence being reported from a Portugal patient,” Jennifer McQuiston of the CDC, told The Boston Herald.

However, officials note the disease doesn’t spread as readily as Covid and shuoldn’t be considered an equivalent concern.

A reminder: There’s already a vaccine for monkeypox!

22:34 , Josh Marcus

We shouldn’t be as worried about monkeypox as we are about Covid, according to health officials.

And one reason why is simple: there’s already a vaccine that works against the disease, which is rarely found outside of Africa.

Vaccine makers like Denmark’s Bavarian Nordic A/S are ramping up production of existing smallpox vaccines. They are shown to be highly effective against the rare condition, which is akin to a much less severe version of smallpox.

Two more suspected cases of Monkeypox detected in Utah

21:10 , Joe Middleton

Health officials in Utah are investigating two suspected cases of Monkeypox, the fourth US state to report infections.

Two adults who live in the same house in Salt Lake City and recently returned from overseas are showing mild symptoms for the disease, officials said.

Salt Lake Health said the infected pair were isolating and there was not thought to be any risk of exposure to others.

Bevan Hurley reports.

Two more suspected cases of Monkeypox detected in Utah

Monkeypox spreads through 'close physical contact', says WHO health official

20:21 , Joe Middleton

First Covid, now monkeypox – will we ever learn?

19:52 , Joe Middleton

We need to stop thinking of animals as commodities, and instead as communities with which we share the planet, writes Julia Baines.

Opinion: First Covid, now monkeypox – will we ever learn?

'Anyone can get it': WHO health official dispels myth around monkeypox as 'gay disease'

19:15 , Joe Middleton

Monkeypox: UK cases more than double to 56

18:58 , Eleanor Sly

Monkeypox cases have more than doubled in the UK as the disease continues to spread globally.

Public health officials have announced a further 36 cases of monkeypox in the UK, up from 20 on Friday. It comes as Scotland health authourities announced on Monday morning a first case had been identified.

In an update on Monday afternoon, Dr Sue Hopkins, chief medical adviser for the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said: “Alongside reports of further cases being identified in other countries globally, we continue to identify additional cases in the UK.

Read more here:

36 new cases of monkey pox found in UK

How worried should you be about monkeypox?

18:15 , Eleanor Sly

The monkeypox outbreak that has struck the UK, US and continental Europe over the last week appears to be continuing to spread.

There are now 21 confirmed cases in England, one in Scotland, potentially three in the US and as many as 23 in Portugal and 40 in Spain while France, Germany, Italy and Sweden have all reported first cases.

In all, there have been more than 100 confirmed or suspected infections around the world at this early stage but the public are being reassured.

Joe Sommerlad reports:

How worried should you be about monkeypox?

Monkeypox v chickenpox differences

17:56 , Joe Middleton

Many of the symptoms of monkeypox appear initially similar to chickenpox, our health correspondent Rebecca Thomas writes.

However, there are several key differences between the two.

More here:

What is the difference between monkeypox and chickenpox?

Florida health officials investigate third ‘presumptive’ monkeypox case in US

17:36 , Joe Middleton

Health officials in Florida are investigating a “presumptive” monkeypox case, the third reported in the United States.

The monkeypox case was reported in Broward County and appears to be linked to international travel, officials said.

Cases of the infectious disease have also been reported in New York City and Massachusetts.

President Joe Biden addressed the growing international outbreak on Sunday, warning “everybody” should be concerned about the spread of monkeypox.

Bevan Hurley reports.

Florida health officials investigate third ‘presumptive’ monkeypox case in US

WHO doctor explains how monkeypox spread among humans

17:15 , Joe Middleton

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) records 36 additional cases of monkeypox

16:53 , Joe Middleton

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on Monday that it had detected 36 additional cases of monkeypox in England.

This takes the total number of confirmed cases since May 7 to 56.

36 new cases of monkey pox found in UK

World ‘cannot take eye off the ball’ over infectious diseases as monkeypox spreads

16:47 , Joe Middleton

The world cannot take its “eye off the ball” in preparing for the next pandemic, a leading scientist behind the Oxford jab has warned as the latest monkeypox outbreak continues to spread.

Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, insisted the rise in monkeypox infections “really isn’t a Covid-like scenario,” but said it was yet another reminder of the need to invest in pandemic preparedness and vaccine development for infectious diseases.

The failure to do so “really puts the human population at risk,” he told The Independent, adding that future diseases which go on to spread throughout the world could be much deadly than Covid-19 or monkeypox.

Our science correspondent Samuel Lovett reports.

World ‘cannot take eye off the ball’ over infectious diseases as monkeypox spreads

No plans to hold Cobra emergency meeting over monkeypox, says No10

16:34 , Joe Middleton

Downing Street said there are no plans to hold a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee over monkeypox, or to impose any travel bans.

Asked about travel restrictions from affected countries, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “No, no considerations of that kind. What we’re seeing at the moment is community transmission not linked to travel.”

He said vaccines are being offered to close contacts but no plans for an “at scale” vaccination programme.

“We do have vaccines procured at significant numbers but given the nature of this and how we know it’s spreading, it’s thought to be no clinical requirement for that sort of at scale campaign,” he said.

ICYMI: Education secretary says Sajid Javid has bought Monkeypox vaccine

16:13 , Joe Middleton

Germany set to release quarantine guidelines

15:59 , Zoe Tidman

Germany’s health minister has expressed concern about monkeypox outbreaks and said the country was due to release quarantine guidelines on Tuesday after reporting three cases.

Karl Lauterbach said that men who have sex with unknown partners were currently a risk group and should be warned about monkeypox “without any stigmatisation”.

ICYMI: Scotland records first confirmed case of monkeypox

15:35 , Zoe Tidman

Scotland has recorded its first case of monkeypox, as more UK cases are set to be announced, Liam James reports.

The person infected in Scotland is “being managed and treated in line with nationally agreed protocols and guidance”, according to Dr Nick Phin, a director of Public Health Scotland.

First case of monkeypox detected in Scotland

Latest monkeypox tally around world

15:05 , Zoe Tidman

Here is the latest situation around the world:

Asia-Pacific

• Australia on 20 May reported its first case in a traveller who recently returned from Britain. Another suspected case was also identified

Europe

• Austria confirmed its first case on 22 May

• Belgium detected two cases on 20 May

• Denmark confirmed its first case on 23 May

• France reportedly confirmed a first case in the Paris region on 20 May

• Germany has confirmed three cases, with the first registered on 20 May

• Italy confirmed two cases in Rome on 20 May, bringing the country’s total to three

• The Netherlands reported its first case on 20 May and has since confirmed “several” more patients, without giving an exact number

• Portugal reported 14 new confirmed cases on 23 May, bringing the total to 3

• Spain confirmed four more cases in the Madrid region on 23 May, raising the total to 34, with another 38 suspected cases in Madrid

• Sweden confirmed its first case on 19 May

• Switzerland reported its first confirmed case on 21 May

• The UK detected 11 new cases in England on 20 May to bring the total there to 20, while Scotland confirmed its first case on 23 May

Middle East

• Israel confirmed its first case on 21 May

Americas

• Argentina reported its first suspected case on 23 May

• Canada confirmed two infections on 19 May, with Quebec authorities saying they were investigating 17 suspected cases

• The US has confirmed two cases, the first on 18 May, and a third was suspected on 23 May

Monkeypox v chickenpox differences

14:47 , Zoe Tidman

Many of the symptoms of monkeypox appear initially similar to chickenpox, our health correspondent Rebecca Thomas writes.

However, there are several key differences between the two.

More here:

What is the difference between monkeypox and chickenpox?

No cases yet in Northern Ireland

14:30 , Zoe Tidman

A multidisciplinary incident management team has been established in Northern Ireland to prepare for any risk to the population from monkeypox.

The Public Health Agency said there are currently no confirmed cases of the virus in the region, but added that it is in regular contact with UK-wide authorities.

PA

LIVE: World Health Organisation answers questions on monkeypox

14:25 , Zoe Tidman

Watch here as experts answers questions live on the virus spreading across the world:

Where has monkeypox been detected so far?

14:22 , Zoe Tidman

Superspreader events are likely behind the rise in global monkeypox cases, a leading scientist has warned, with infections detected in 15 countries so far.

Which nations are affected? Samuel Lovett, our senior news correspondent, takes a look:

All the countries reporting monkeypox cases amid fears over superspreader events

‘Important we keep an eye on monkeypox,’ Boris Johnson says

13:54 , Zoe Tidman

Boris Johnson has said the government is looking carefully at the circumstances surrounding the transmission of monkeypox.

“It is basically a very rare disease and so far the consequences don’t seem to be very serious but it is important that we keep an eye on it,” he told reporters.

PM hasn’t spoken to Professor Sir Chris Whitty about monkeypox, No10 says

13:28 , Zoe Tidman

Boris Johnson and Professor Sir Chris Whitty are not believed to have discussed monkeypox, according to Downing Street.

When a spokesperson was asked whether the PM has spoken to England’s chief medical officer about the virus spreading in the country, they replied: “I don’t believe he has.”

“He’s receiving regular updates on it and the health secretary is leading for the Cabinet,” they added.

UN warns against coverage enabling ‘homophobic and racist’ stereotypes

13:13 , Zoe Tidman

The UN has warned against news reports that enable “homophobic” and “racist” stereotypes over the recent monkeypox outbreak, in a call for more sensitive coverage, Arpan Rai reports.

Evidence has shown people are most at risk of contracting monkeypox after having close physical contact with someone who has the disease.

This is not limited to men who have sex with other men, the UN Programme on HIV/AIDS has said in a statement, citing the World Health Organisation.

Full story:

Monkeypox: UN criticises ‘homophobic’ reporting of virus outbreak

Public Health Scotland ‘working to find source' of first confirmed case

12:48 , Zoe Tidman

Here is Dr Nick Phin from Public Health Scotland on the country’s first confirmed monkeypox case:

“Public Health Scotland is aware of an individual in Scotland who is confirmed to have monkeypox.

“The affected individual is being managed and treated in line with nationally agreed protocols and guidance.

“We have well-established and robust infection control procedures for dealing with such cases of infectious disease and these will be strictly followed.

“We are working with NHS Boards and wider partners in Scotland and the UK to investigate the source of this infection.

“Close contacts of the case are being identified and provided with health information and advice. This may include the offer of vaccination.”

PA

ICYMI: Urgent call for volunteer virologists

12:30 , Zoe Tidman

The UK - which is bracing for another increase in monkeypox cases today - has launched an urgent call for volunteer virologists in light of the current situation.

Our health correspondent, Rebecca Thomas, has this exclusive report:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/monkeypox-symptoms-smallpox-cases-latest-b2083648.html

What are the symptoms?

12:12 , Zoe Tidman

Monkeypox is a relatively mild viral infection which causes a host of symptoms.

Joe Sommerlad takes a look at what they are and how to look out for them:

Monkeypox symptoms: What to look for

First case confirmed in Scotland

11:51 , Zoe Tidman

Contact tracing is being carried out after the first case of monkeypox in Scotland was confirmed.

Public Health Scotland said the individual affected was receiving treatment and efforts were under way to trace anyone they may have spread the virus to.

Sexual activity at raves could be behind current global outbreak, WHO advisor says

11:34 , Zoe Tidman

A leading advisor to the World Health Organisation has said the unprecedented outbreak of monkeypox around the globe could be down to two raves in Europe.

Dr David Heymann, who formerly headed WHO’s emergencies department, told the Associated Press the leading theory to explain the spread of the disease was sexual transmission at events held in Spain and Belgium.

“We know monkeypox can spread when there is close contact with the lesions of someone who is infected, and it looks like sexual contact has now amplified that transmission,” Dr Heymann said.

Monkeypox has not previously triggered widespread outbreaks beyond Africa, where it is endemic in animals.

UK health authorities deserve praise for monkeypox response, expert says

11:04 , Zoe Tidman

Sir Jeremy Farrar also said he thinks the UK Health Security Agency “deserves great credit” for its “textbook example” response to the outbreak.

“The action is what’s happening in the UK at the moment, which is very detailed, very painstaking contact tracing, identifying people who come forward and identifying their contacts and tracking everybody to see that you can break those chains of transmission, and making sure that that’s done in a trusted way...

“The worst thing is if we have any stigma associated with these infections, and people are fearful or don’t want to come forward, and that’s when epidemics can really take off.”

PA

Superspreader events likely behind global surge in cases, expert says

10:47 , Zoe Tidman

An infectious diseases expert has said superspreader events are likely behind the global surge in monkeypox cases.

Sir Jeremy Farrar, the director of Wellcome, said there have been small outbreaks in the past with cases in the UK - but “something has changed” with this one.

“The virus may have changed, but I think that’s unlikely,” he told BBC Radio 4’sToday programme.

“More likely is, I think, that the niche that this virus now finds itself in has allowed for some superspreader events and those individuals involved in that have then travelled to other parts of the world and taken the infection with them.”

He said the fact the virus has “spread across borders so quickly” is different from what has happened before.

Additional reporting by PA

Opinion: The public health threat of a ‘toxic relationship’ with animals

10:12 , Zoe Tidman

“When will we learn?” Julia Baines from Peta UK asks.

“Now that monkeypox has been detected in Canada, Portugal, Spain, the UK, and the US, we should accept that our toxic relationship with animals is sleepwalking us into disaster.”

Read her take on the spread of monkeypox here:

Opinion: First Covid, now monkeypox – will we ever learn?

What has been the trajectory in the England?

09:43 , Zoe Tidman

7 May: One case confirmed in England. Patients had recently travelled to Nigeria where they were believed to have picked the virus up.

14 May: Two people who live together in London confirmed as having monkeypox.

16 May: Four more cases confirmed: three in London and one in the North East.

18 May: Two more cases confirmed: one in London, the other in the South East.

20 May: Eleven more cases in England confirmed.

Another announcement on monkeypox cases expected later today. Stay tuned for more.

ICYMI: Scientists ‘stunned’ by global spread

09:24 , Zoe Tidman

Experts who have monitored previous outbreaks of monkeypox have said they are “stunned” by the recent spread of the virus in Europe and North America.

Emily Atkinson reports:

Monkeypox: Scientists ‘stunned’ by spread of virus in Europe and North America

Watch: UK minister denies Covid comparison

09:04 , Zoe Tidman

Simon Clarke, the chief secretary to the Treasury, has said monkeypox is not a “repeat” of the Covid pandemic.

Watch his make the comments here:

UK tally expected to increase today

08:49 , Zoe Tidman

The UK is expected to announce an increase on its 20 confirmed cases of monkeypox later today.

It comes after a senior doctor warned new cases were being reported every day.

Furvah Shah reports on the situation in the UK:

Monkeypox: New cases being detected ‘every day’ as UK outbreak spreads

UK minister says Monkeypox not ‘some repeat of Covid’

08:06 , Zoe Tidman

Monkeypox is not a “repeat of” Covid-19, a UK government minister has assured.

“As with any new disease, and obviously after the Covid pandemic doubly so, we continue to monitor this very closely,” Simon Clarke, the chief secretary to the Treasury, told Sky News.

“I would say I am cautious but I am certainly not concerned about our ability to handle the situation.

“There is a vaccine which is available and works for monkeypox, and all the evidence is that it is spread by physical contact.

Mr Clarke added: “What I would say is we are cautious but we are certainly not in a position where I would in anyway worry the public that this is some repeat of Covid, because it certainly does not appear to be anywhere near the same platform of seriousness.”

PA

Joe Biden says US stockpiles are ‘enough'

08:00 , Zoe Tidman

Joe Biden has also said the smallpox vaccine works for monkeypox.

Asked whether the US has enough stockpiles of that vaccine to handle the monkeypox spread, the US president said: “I think we do have enough to deal with the likelihood of a problem.”

AP

Joe Biden seeks to calm monkeypox concerns

07:46 , Zoe Tidman

The US president has sought to calm concerns about recent cases of monkeypox around the globe.

Joe Biden said at the weekend the virus was something “to be concerned about”.

He has now clarified: “I just don’t think it rises to the level of the kind of concern that existed with Covid-19.”

Monkeypox explained

07:33 , Zoe Tidman

Here is a quick reminder about what we know about monkeypox so far:

What we know about monkeypox as rare virus spreads

Belgium becomes first country to order 21-day compulsory quarantine

07:05 , Shweta Sharma

Belgium has become the first country a compulsory 21-day quarantine for monkeypox patients.

All those testing positive for monkeypox virus would have to self-isolate for three weeks Belgian health authorities have said, after at least four cases were confirmed.

Latest monkeypox cases tally across the world

06:54 , Shweta Sharma

An increasing number of countries are reporting their first cases of monkeypox while the tally has been rising in countries where the virus is already present. The outbreak is now said to be the “largest and most widespread ever seen in Europe” where a dozen of countries have reported cases.

UK

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that there are 20 cases of monkeypox in the country since the first case was detected on 6 May. “We anticipated that further cases would be detected through our active case finding with NHS services and heightened vigilance among healthcare professionals,” Susan Hopkins said.

US

In the US, the tally is expected to rise to three after a health agency is running tests on an individual in south Florida. The case in Broward County, Florida, is “related to international travel,” CDC said on Sunday. The two other cases have been detected in Massachusetts and New York city.

Spain

The total tally in Spain reached 30 after 23 cases were confirmed in a single day. A sauna in Madrid has been linked to a majority of cases which has been closed. Madrid authorities said they are working on tracing the cases mainly from a super-spreader event in the sauna.

Canada

Canada has confirmed five cases of the virus since the first was detected on Friday. Authorities said provinces are continuing to investigate “a couple dozen” possible cases throughout Canada and more are expected to be confirmed in the coming days.

Australia

Australia has at least two cases of monkeypox after the cases were detected in people returning from abroad. A man in his 30s who arrived in Melbourne on Monday was confirmed to have the virus, Victoria state’s health department said, while another case was identified in Sydney in a man in his 40s who had recently travelled to Europe.

Belgium

The country has become the first in the world to make 21-day quarantine for the patients affected by the virus. It has at least five cases of the virus.

Portugal

The country has 21 to 30 confirmed cases, according to WHO. All the Portuguese cases involve men, most of them young, authorities said.

In Europe, other countries to report at least one to five infections are France, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland and Germany.

Austria, Israel, Switzerland confirm first cases of monkeypox

06:09 , Shweta Sharma

Over the weekend, Austria, Israel and Switzerland became the latest countries to confirm their first monkeypox virus cases.

Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) confirmed the first case of monkeypox in the canton of Bern in a person with travel history abroad. The person has been isolated and contact tracing is being conducted.

“Currently, an accumulation of monkeypox infections is observed in Europe and North America. A first case has also been confirmed in Switzerland (Canton Bern),” it said.

On Sunday, Austria confirmed one suspected case of monkeypox in Vienna. The person had a mild illness with light fever and pustules on his face.

Late Saturday, Israel also confirmed its first case of the virus, making it the very first case of monkeypox in the Middle East. Israel‘s Health Ministry said late Saturday the man was in a Tel Aviv hospital in good condition. It called on anyone returning from abroad with fever and lesions to see a doctor.

High-risk contacts of cases advised to self-isolate in UK

05:50 , Zoe Tidman

The UK government has said high-risk contacts of patients with monkeypox should self-isolate for three weeks and avoid contact with children under 12.

Issuing new guidance, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) now recommends that people who have had “unprotected direct contact or high-risk environmental contact” should isolate.

The advisory includes no travel, providing details for contact tracing and avoiding direct contact with immunosuppressed people, pregnant women and children under 12.

Read details here.

Monkeypox: High-risk contacts advised to self-isolate for three weeks and avoid kids

Biden says monkeypox cases something to 'be concerned about'

05:40 , Shweta Sharma

In his first public comment on the virus, US president Joe Biden said on Sunday that the spike in cases in the world shows there was something “to be concerned about”.

He said: “It is a concern in that if it were to spread it would be consequential.”

He spoke to reporters at Osan Air Base in South Korea, where he visited troops before taking off for Japan to continue his first trip to Asia as president.

“They haven’t told me the level of exposure yet but it is something that everybody should be concerned about,” Mr

Biden said. He added that work was underway to determine what vaccine might be effective. Jake Sullivan, the president’s national security adviser, told reporters aboard the flight to Tokyo that the US has a supply of “vaccine that is relevant to treating monkeypox.”

“We have vaccine available to be deployed for that purpose,” he said.

The US has two confirmed cases of monkeypox, with another 50 suspected in the country.

WHO says outbreak in countries is highly unusual

05:32 , Shweta Sharma

A senior World Health Organisation (WHO) adviser said the latest outbreak of monkeypox in countries where the virus is not endemic is highly unusual as a meeting was convened “because of the urgency of the situation”.

David Heymann, the senior WHO adviser, said the health agency is working on further guidance for countries on how to mitigate the spread of monkeypox, as cases have reached 100-mark globally.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “As we speak our colleagues around the world are responding to outbreaks of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, monkeypox and hepatitis of unknown cause and complex humanitarian crises in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Ukraine and Yemen.

“We face a formidable convergence of disease, drought, famine and war, fuelled by climate change, inequity and geopolitical rivalry,” the WHO head added.

Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, where a majority of cases have been detected, cases are expected to rise more in summers.

“As we enter the summer season … with mass gatherings, festivals and parties, I am concerned that transmission could accelerate”.

05:04 , Shweta Sharma

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of monkeypox on Monday 23 May.