Four new cases of monkeypox identified in UK, bringing total to seven: What is it, how does it spread and what are the symptoms?

Three of the cases have been detected in London, and one in the North East of England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced on Monday (May 16).

The health agency said it was working to find links between the latest four cases, which all appear to have been infected in the capital.

Common contacts have been established between two of the four individuals who have caught the virus.

Those needing care are being treated in specialist infectious disease units at the Royal Free Hospital, Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle upon Tyne and Guy’s and St Thomas’.

The new cases do not have any known links with two other cases confirmed on May 14 or another case announced on May 7.

Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UKHSA, said: “This is rare and unusual.

“UKHSA is rapidly investigating the source of these infections because the evidence suggests that there may be transmission of the monkeypox virus in the community, spread by close contact.”

The first case was a person who had recently travelled to Nigeria, which is where they were believed to have contracted the infection, before travelling to the UK.

All four of the new cases self-identify as gay, bi-sexual or other men who have sex with men, the UKHSA said.

The health body is therefore asking these groups “to be alert” to possible symptoms, which include rashes or lesions on any part of their body, and to contact a sexual health service if they have concerns.