Health

Number of monkeypox cases in State rises to six

No breakdown of Irish cases available from Health Protection Surveillance Centre

Pustules on the hand of a monkeypox patient. Photograph: VisualDx via The New York Times

Paul Cullen
Fri Jun 3 2022 - 11:58

The number of Irish cases of monkeypox virus has increased to six, according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).

It says the new cases are not unexpected given the presence of monkeypox cases in the UK and many European countries. Public health doctors are following up close contacts of each case while they were infectious, the HPSC said on Friday.

Unlike other health agencies in other countries, the HPSC is not providing any further detail about the cases. It says this is to maintain patient confidentiality.

“Public health risk assessments have been undertaken, and those who were in contact with the cases are being advised on what to do in the event that they become ill,” it added.

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More than 500 confirmed cases of monkeypox have been reported in Europe, North America and other countries worldwide over recent weeks. The vast majority do not have a travel link to a country where monkeypox is endemic. Many countries have reported that the cases are predominantly, but not exclusively, in men who self-identify as gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men (gbMSM), the HPSC said.

Anyone, regardless of their sexuality, can get monkeypox, it added. “The reason we are currently hearing more reports of cases of monkeypox in gbMSM communities may be because of positive health-seeking behaviour in this community and increased awareness since this outbreak was alerted to the public and to healthcare workers across the world.”

Monkeypox rashes can resemble some sexually-transmitted diseases, including herpes and syphilis, which may explain why many of the initial cases were picked up at sexual health clinics, the HPSC said.

Paul Cullen

Paul Cullen

Paul Cullen is a former heath editor of The Irish Times.

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