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Daily Record
Daily Record
Lifestyle
Jacob Rawley & Dayna McAlpine

Monkeypox symptoms to look out for as Scotland confirms its first case

The first case of monkeypox has been confirmed in Scotland, bringing the UK total to 57.

The person who has contracted the virus is being cared for and Public Health Scotland are working with the NHS to find the source of the infection.

People are now being asked to keep an eye out for the symptoms of monkeypox, which include unusual rashes or lesions on any part of the body.

There are other symptoms that appear earlier on, according to the NHS, including a fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion.

Public Health Scotland have warned that the condition could be transmitted before the rash appears, so it is important to know the early warning signs, Glasgow Live reports.

The monkeypox rash often begins on the face, then spreads to other parts of the body including the genitals.

The rash changes and goes through different stages, and can look like chickenpox or syphilis, before finally forming a scab, which later falls off.

Monkeypox can cause a rash and scabbing and is typically spread through physical touch, according to medical experts (PA)

Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted infection, though it can be passed on by direct contact during sex.

The NHS say that the condition typically clears in 2-4 weeks, and the WHO do not consider it to be a major health risk with a case fatality ratio of around 3-6%.

It is not airborne, so will not spread as easily as Covid-19 and Dr Nick Phin, Director of Public Health Science, said: “The overall risk to the general public is low.

“Anyone with an unusual blister-like rash or small number of blister-like sores on any part of their body, including their genital area, should avoid close contact with others and seek medical advice if they have any concerns.”

Dr Susan Hopkins of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on the BBC's Sunday programme: "If you have a rash, immediately seek medical care, either by calling your GP or a sexual health clinic".

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