Monkeypox

Monkeypox is a virus that is rare in the UK, but there has been a recent outbreak (especially amongst men who have sex with other men). The overall risk of catching Monkeypox is low in the United Kingdom.

The virus is transmitted via close physical contact with the lesions that form on the skin of an infected person. The virus can also be transmitted by sharing towels or bedding of an infected person. Transmission may also take place if an infected person sneezes.

Symptoms of Monkeypox

The incubation period is 5 – 21 days, and initial symptoms include:

• Fever
• Joint pain
• Muscle aches
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Shivering

A few days after these initial symptoms, lesions will appear on the skin. The lesions or rash will generally start on the face and then spread to other parts of the body. The rash can be confused with other diseases (such as chickenpox). A sample taken from a lesion is capable of determining if you have Monkeypox or not when subjected to a PCR test in the lab.

Symptoms will last for a few weeks. Patients remain infections until the lesions have scabbed over and healed with new skin.

The Monkeypox Test

The test is a PCR test using a sample collected via a special swab from one of the lesions. The test takes 2 – 3 days to report once the sample arrives in the laboratory.

Our sample collection kit comes with full instructions and is very easy to use. The sensitivity and specificity are both 100%, making it the most accurate test available. Our kits are available for next day delivery and include a Royal Mail 24 Tracked return envelope. The fee includes the lab report and an interpretation from a doctor.

Further information on Monkeypox can be found here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/monkeypox/

Reviewed by: Dr Loraine Haslam MBBS, DRCOG, DFSRH, LoC SDI, LoC IUT, MRCGP
GMC registration number: 4524038
Date: 24 November 2022
Next review: 23 November 2024
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