ondon mayor Sadiq Khan has the Government to urgently address the spread of monkeypox after 71% of recent cases were reported in the capital.
Between May 6 and July 11 this year, there were 1,735 confirmed cases of monkey pox in the UK, and 1,229 of those were Londoners, according to figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
This compares to just seven cases registered in the UK between 2018 and 2021.
Mr Khan has said he is “deeply concerned” about the spread and has informed the recently appointed Health SecretarySteve Barclay, who urged him to act.
This follows calls from charities including the National Aids Trust and the Terrence Higgins Trust for the NHS and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) to fight the outbreak as soon as possible.
On Thursday evening, Mr Khan said: “Today I wrote to the Health Secretary about the growing number of monkey pox cases in London and the UK.
“London currently has the highest number of infections and I am deeply concerned that the number of monkey pox cases reported has doubled in less than a week.
“If we have learned anything from the Covid-19 pandemic, it is that early action and coordination are vital to leading the way.
“The government needs to act quickly to ensure that there is a coordinated and well-equipped approach to address the threat that monkeypox now faces.
“I have informed the Secretary of State that” City Hall will do everything in its power to ensure that Londoners get the information and support they need.”
According to the UKHSA, the majority of people affected by the virus during this year’s outbreak were men, at 99.4%.
For confirmed cases where gender information was available, 1,633 were males and only 10 females.
Sexual health charities have warned that the increased burden on their services caused by monkeypox could also jeopardize the government’s goal of ending new HIV cases in the UK by 2030.
Monkeypox is related to smallpox and cases are usually found in West and Central Africa, with the virus not often spreading elsewhere.
The disease, which was first discovered in monkeys, is usually mild, but can cause serious illness in some cases.
Most patients experience fever, body aches, chills, and fatigue, but some may develop a rash and lesions on the face and hands that can spread to other parts of the body.
The DHSC said it urges people to watch out for new sores or blisters, especially if they’ve been in close contact with a new partner.
A spokesperson for the department said: “We are providing more than £3.4 billion to local authorities through the Public Health Grant, enabling them to invest in essential frontline services, including sexual health services.
“The UK Health Security Agency is asking people to be alert to any new spots, sores or blisters on any part of their body, especially if they have been in close contact with a new partner.
“If people think they have these symptoms, they should avoid close contact with others and call NHS 111 or their local sexual health center – but are encouraged to call ahead before coming.”