New monkeypox symptoms have been revealed in a latest study while a lead scientist of the report has warned that the virus has “no borders”.
A vaccination programme against monkeypox is being stepped up by the NHS as more supplies of a jab come on stream.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it had procured 100,000 more doses of an effective vaccine as monkeypox cases continue to rise.
As of July 18, there were 2,137 confirmed cases in the UK, with 2,050 in England and the majority in London.
While anyone can get monkeypox, the majority of cases in the UK continue to be in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.
Global outbreaks of monkeypox were noted in May and now The New England Journal of Medicine has published its findings after the largest review so far of the virus covering 16 countries.
It is known to cause flu-like symptoms and rashes with small spots which blister before scabbing over.
But now other new symptoms have also been discovered.
“These symptoms include single genital lesions and sores on the mouth or anus,” the paper said.
Statistically one in ten people had a single skin lesion in the genital area and 15% had anal or rectal pain said Dr John Thornhill, a sexual health consultant and lecturer at Queen Mary University of London.
While Professor Chloe Orkin, of the same London university and Director of the SHARE collaborative warned about the spread of the virus.
She said: “Viruses know no borders and monkeypox infections have now been described in 70 countries and in more than 13,000 people.”
