Monkeypox is a rare viral infection mainly spread by wild animals. It is very rare in the UK.

The latest cases bring the total number of monkeypox cases confirmed in England since Friday 6 May to 20, with recent cases predominantly in gay and bisexual men.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are working closely with NHS England and NHS trusts, the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), the British HIV Association (BHIVA), and Terrence Higgins Trust to respond to this emerging situation.

The latest update from UKHSA is:

• There has been a small number of confirmed cases of monkeypox in the UK, with the majority of those cases among gay and bisexual men.
• Monkeypox spreads through close contact, so is likely being spread during sex rather than through sexual transmission.
• Everyone is being asked to be aware of the monkeypox symptoms, but it’s important gay and bisexual men are alert as its believed to be spreading in sexual networks.
• If people have a rash anywhere or any of the other symptoms below, they should contact their local sexual health service by phone – not in person.
• The rash often starts on the face then spreads to other parts of the body, including the genitals.
• Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion.

Resources for the sector

UKHSA

Press releases (latest statements and updates).

The epidemiology, symptoms, diagnosis and management of monkeypox virus infections.

NHS – Central Alert System (CAS)

Immediate actions in response to cases of Monkeypox Virus in the UK with no known travel history.

BASHH

Monkeypox resources and operational documents.

This hub provides information for sexual health services (SHS), including:

• Latest guidance for SHS colleagues.
• Flowcharts for receptions, clinics receiving patients attending clinic.
• Operational issues to address potential monkeypox.

BHIVA

BHIVA rapid statement on monkeypox virus (impact on people with HIV).

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)

Risk assessment: Monkeypox multi-country outbreak

World Health Organisation (WHO)

Statement on the situation in the UK.

Information for the public

NHS information on transmission, symptoms, and treatment.

Terrence Higgins Trust monkeypox in the UK update, including frequently asked questions.

 

Coming soon: Social media assets and messaging

Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions.

With the launch of the Government’s HIV Action Plan, England has set a target to reduce new HIV transmissions by 80% by 2025, and end them by 2030.

To support these ambitions NHS England and Improvement are expanding opt-out testing in emergency departments (ED) in the highest prevalence local authority areas, a proven effective way to identify new cases, by investing £20m over the next three years to support this activity.

We’ve worked with the Elton John AIDS Foundation to produce new guidance for NHS hospital trusts looking to implement opt-out ED HIV testing.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) Zero HIV Social Impact Bond (SIB) was a world-first initiative when it launched in 2018, aimed at focusing on bringing individuals with HIV into care across the South London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark, and Lewisham.

EJAF, Lambeth Council, The National Lottery Community Fund, ViiV Healthcare, Comic Relief and Big Issue worked in partnership to deliver the SIB with local organisations and health systems, including local NHS hospital trusts.

The Zero HIV SIB operates across three settings: in hospitals, in GP surgeries and in the community.

This new resource outlines practical guidance learned from the SIB, focusing on ED HIV testing initiatives at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.

The guidance includes:

• Top tips from ED and HIV clinic teams.
• Learning from the Zero HIV SIB.
• Case study on implementing HIV testing in ED settings.
• Practical examples of tools and advice, including processes of communicating HIV test results.

Download guidance [pdf]

Further resources

Fast-Track Cities London is working with NHS England and partners to support the roll out of HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B testing in London emergency departments.

It has produced a best practice guide for clinicians and NHS hospital colleagues: Blood-borne viruses opt-out testing in emergency departments in London [PDF]

In April, HIV Prevention England hosted a webinar with colleagues from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH). You can watch a video of the webinar below.

Colleagues will be aware that surveillance by the UKHSA has detected a rise in cases of extremely antibiotic-resistant Shigella sonnei infections, mainly in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM).

Shigella consists of bacteria that cause intestinal infection resulting in symptoms ranging from mild to severe (including diarrhoea, fever, and abdominal pain). In most cases symptoms subside within a week, but some individuals need hospitalisation and require intravenous antibiotic treatment.

Transmission occurs via the faecal-oral route through direct contact with an infected person, or exposure to contaminated surfaces, food or water. In the UK cases are increasingly via sexual transmission (direct oral-anal contact, oral sex after anal sex or play, including fingering or use of sex toys).

Your contribution is very important in helping us to recognise cases and raise awareness of how shigella is transmitted.

Shigella webinar recording

The webinar provided a short ten minute presentation, followed by a detailed Q&A discussion with a panel of experts from UKHSA and BASHH.

The video of the webinar below covers:

• ‘Maybe it’s shigella’ campaign resources and information for patients
• Brief introduction to shigella
• Update on epidemiology of sexually transmitted shigella in England
• Update on outbreak of extensively-drug resistant Shigella sonnei
• Q&A discussion

Resources

Download the webinar slides: Shigella trends in England (UKHSA) [PDF]

Find out what patient resources and information are available.