Health authorities across the United Kingdom on Tuesday issued updated guidance for anyone with symptoms to refrain from having sex as part of efforts to contain the spread of monkeypox.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued the guidance along with authorities in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales as a further 71 cases were identified in England this week, taking the total in the UK to 179. Under the guidance, people with monkeypox are also urged to avoid close contact with others until their lesions have healed and any scabs have dried off. "We are reassuring people that monkeypox does not usually spread easily between people, and the overall risk to the general public is low," said Indian-origin Dr Giri Shankar, Director of Health Protection for Public Health Wales.
"We are working with the UK Health Security Agency, Public Health Scotland, and Public Health Agency Northern Ireland to develop this guidance, which will ensure that the staff in Wales have the best knowledge.