Yesterday the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) released a new report on the monkeypox outbreak in Europe, and noted that the first specimen identified through retrospective testing in the United Kingdom was on Mar 7, and the earliest date of symptom onset was reported on Apr 17.

The UK Health Security Agency, in contrast, confirmed the first UK case in the current global outbreak on May 7.

Four HCW cases tied to healthcare exposure

As of Sep 27, the WHO and ECDC have been informed of four cases of occupational exposure to monkeypox, according to the report. In three cases of occupational exposure, healthcare workers were wearing recommended personal protective equipment but were exposed to body fluid while collecting samples, the report said.

Since the spring, a total of 24,622 cases in Europe have been identified, with 98% of cases found in men. Of 10,610 patients with known sexual orientation, 96% identified as men who have sex with men (MSM), and among cases with known HIV status, 38% were HIV-positive.

Spain has the highest case count, with 7,149, followed by France (3,970), the United Kingdom (3,635), and Germany (3,607).

In an additional report that excluded UK data, the ECDC said monkeypox cases have declined since July, but the likelihood of the disease spreading further in networks of people with multiple sexual partners is high, especially among MSM.

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