Another 104 monkeypox cases detected in the UK, most in men

British health officials have detected another 104 cases of monkeypox in England, in what has become the largest outbreak beyond Africa of the rare disease in general.

Britain’s Health Protection Agency said on Monday that there have now been 470 cases of monkeypox nationwide, most of them in gay or bisexual men. Scientists warn that anyone, regardless of sexual orientation, is at risk of getting monkeypox if they are in close physical contact with an infected person or their clothing or sheets.

According to UK statistics, 99% of the cases have been in men so far and most of the cases are in London.

In May, a leading World Health Organization advisory said outbreaks of monkeypox in Europe and beyond were spread by sex in two recent waves in Spain and Belgium.

Last week, the WHO said 1,285 cases of monkeypox had been reported from 28 countries where monkeypox was not considered to be endemic. No deaths have been reported outside Africa. Spain, Germany and Canada have the highest number of cases after Britain.

The WHO said many people in the outbreak had “unusual features” of the disease that could make it more difficult for doctors to diagnose. The UN health agency also said that while monkeypox can be spread by close contact, “it is unclear what role sexual bodily fluids, including semen and vaginal fluids, play in transmission.”

Meanwhile, countries in Africa have reported more than 1,500 suspected cases, including 72 deaths from eight countries. Monkeypox is known to be endemic in Central and West Africa.