The United Kingdom has confirmed a case of monkey pox infection in an unidentified individual who travelled from Nigeria to England.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reports that the infection is believed to have been contracted in Nigeria before the patient arrived in the UK.
Without disclosing the identity of the patient, the UKHSA noted that the patient is receiving care at an infectious disease unit.
The agency also said it was working towards reaching people who have been in contact with the patient to avoid a possible spread of the virus.
“The patient is receiving care at the expert infectious disease unit at the St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London.
“As a precautionary measure, UKHSA experts are working closely with NHS colleagues and will be contacting people who might have been in close contact with the individual to provide information and health advice
“This includes contacting a number of passengers who travelled in close proximity to the patient on the same flight to the UK. People without symptoms are not considered infectious but, as a precaution, those who have been in close proximity are being contacted to ensure that if they do become unwell they can be treated quickly. If passengers are not contacted then there is no action they should take,” it said.