By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Public Health Wales (PHW) is reporting two cases of monkeypox identified in north Wales, according to multiple news reports.

Monkeypox/CDC

Health officials say the initial case was acquired overseas and both cases were identified in two people from the same household.

“Confirmed cases of monkeypox are a rare event in the UK, and the risk to the general public is very low,” said Richard Firth, PHW’s consultant in health protection.

PHW said it was working with Public Health England (PHE) and that both people had been treated in hospital in England, where one remains.

“Actions have been put in place to minimize the likelihood of further infection”, officials note.

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Monkeypox is a rare viral infection that does not spread easily between people. It is usually a mild self-limiting illness and most people recover within a few weeks. However, severe illness can occur in some individuals.

Initial symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. A rash can develop, often beginning on the face, then spreading to other parts of the body. The rash changes and goes through different stages before finally forming a scab, which later falls off.

The infection can be spread when someone is in close contact with an infected person; however there is a very low risk of transmission to the general population.

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