The World Health Organization (WHO) has now confirmed nearly 100 cases of monkeypox in over a dozen countries, with the largest number in the UK. Most of the cases so far are among gay and bisexual men.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported the first case in the current outbreak on 7 May in a man who had recently travelled to Nigeria, where monkeypox is endemic. This was soon followed by two additional cases who share a household and four cases among gay and bisexual men, all of whom appear to have contracted the virus locally. As of 23 May, UKHSA has reported 70 confirmed cases in England and one in Scotland.
The latest WHO update on 21 May listed 92 confirmed and 28 suspected cases. After the UK, the most cases have been reported in Spain and Portugal, with smaller numbers in several other European countries, Canada, the United States and Australia. An informal tally by Global.health, compiled from various sources, listed more than 300 confirmed or suspected cases worldwide as of 25 May.
Cases so far have "mainly but not exclusively been identified amongst men who have sex with men," according to WHO. Among the Global.health cases with a known sex and age, all but three are young or middle-aged men. Many of the affected men identify as gay or bisexual or sought care at sexual health clinics. Several cases are reportedly linked to a sauna in Spain and a fetish festival in Belgium. Many of the men reported recent international travel.
Based on an ECDC epidemiological assessment, "the likelihood of monkeypox spreading in persons having multiple sexual partners in the European Union/European Economic Area is considered high." But given that the disease has so far been mild, the overall risk is considered moderate for this group and low for the broader population.
Meanwhile, the public is warned to stay away from gays and bisexual men. They are the ones being targeted by the disease and will spread from them.