FILE PHOTO: Test tube labelled “Monkeypox virus positive” is seen in this illustration taken May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Health UK Health Security Agency launches study to determine whether mpox can be transmitted asymptomatically, by people without any obvious symptoms The £1 million PResymptomatIc MonkEypox / Mpox (PRIME) study, funded by the Medical Research Council, is asking anyone in England aged 18 or over who knows they have been in close sexual contact with an mpox case to come forward to participate. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
FILE PHOTO: Test tube labelled “Monkeypox virus positive” is seen in this illustration taken May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Health “We should not be complacent about mpox.”: UK Health Security Agency publishes updated mpox statistics The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published its latest mpox outbreak epidemiological overview, which provides an update to the number of confirmed and highly probable mpox cases in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
FILE PHOTO: Test tube labelled “Monkeypox virus positive” is seen in this illustration taken May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Health Mpox vaccinations extended in London following recent spike in cases The nationwide mpox outbreak vaccination programme is due to come to a close at the end of July, however vaccinations will continue to be available beyond this date in London after 11 new cases were diagnosed within the past few weeks. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
FILE PHOTO: Test tube labelled “Monkeypox virus positive” is seen in this illustration taken May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Health Latest mpox cases a reminder that “the infection has not gone away”, says UK Health Security Agency Latest data shows an increase in mpox cases in London over the past four weeks. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
FILE PHOTO: Test tube labelled “Monkeypox virus positive” is seen in this illustration taken May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Health Research paper sheds light on those affected by monkeypox who attended sexual health services in England The paper is a collaborative piece of work between the national STI team at UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the British Association of Sexual Health & HIV (BASHH) and utilised a bespoke data collection tool to understand the clinical presentation, clinical severity, and epidemiology of those a By Graham Robson • 2 min read
FILE PHOTO: Test tube labelled “Monkeypox virus positive” is seen in this illustration taken May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Health Study launched to find out more about mpox immunity The UK Health Security Agency, supported by the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, has launched a study to better understand how the body reacts to the mpox (monkeypox) virus and produces antibodies. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
FILE PHOTO: Test tube labelled “Monkeypox virus positive” is seen in this illustration taken May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Health Mpox vaccination programme to be wound down; those still eligible urged to come forward First doses remain available for gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men (GBMSM) at highest risk from mpox until June 16 with second doses available until the end of July. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
FILE PHOTO: Test tube labelled “Monkeypox virus positive” is seen in this illustration taken May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Health UK Health Security Agency publishes latest figures on monkeypox outbreak in the UK UK Health Security Agency has published its latest mpox (monkeypox) outbreak epidemiological overview, which provides an update to the number of confirmed and highly probable mpox cases in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Health Innovative projects to receive vital funding to trial new ways to improve sexual health and HIV outcomes Brighton & Hove Switchboard, Terrence Higgins Trust, Love Tank and Birmingham LGBT are among 14 organisations to benefit from a new fund to boost engagement and outreach activity to reduce sexual health inequalities across England By Graham Robson • 3 min read
Health New fund established to reduce sexual health inequalities across England The UKHSA Mpox and Sexual Health (STI and HIV) Outreach and Engagement Activity Fund will provide up to £30,000 funding to community-based, voluntary sector organisations to develop and deliver work to address inequalities in affected LGBTQ+ groups. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
FILE PHOTO: Test tube labelled “Monkeypox virus positive” is seen in this illustration taken May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Health UK Health Security Agency finds vaccination offers strong protection against monkeypox New UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) evidence indicates that a single MVA-BN vaccine dose provides around 78% protection against monkeypox 14 days after being vaccinated. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
FILE PHOTO: Test tube labelled “Monkeypox virus positive” is seen in this illustration taken May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Health NHS England launches monkeypox vaccination clinic finder The new tool makes it easier for gay and bisexual men to find their nearest vaccination centre and book a monkeypox vaccine. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
FILE PHOTO: Test tube labelled “Monkeypox virus positive” is seen in this illustration taken May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Health Terrence Higgins Trust withdraws support for government’s ‘lacklustre’ monkeypox strategy Due to appropriate actions not being taken and the lacklustre monkeypox communication strategy, THT has decided to withdraw from monkeypox communications meetings for England. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Health Health Secretary must ‘prioritise monkeypox’s devastating impact on sexual health services’ Leading sexual health charities – Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), National AIDS Trust and PrEPster – have warned newly appointed Health Secretary Thérèse Coffey MP that sexual health clinics are in crisis with the current monkeypox outbreak displacing other vital services, including testing for sexual By Graham Robson • 3 min read
FILE PHOTO: Test tube labelled “Monkeypox virus positive” is seen in this illustration taken May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Health Second vaccine doses to be offered to those at highest risk from monkeypox The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has announced that second doses of the smallpox (Jynneos) vaccine will be offered to people at highest risk from monkeypox – gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men – in order to maximise protection against the virus. By Graham Robson • 3 min read
Health QueerAF launches What The Pox? podcast with Martin Joseph QueerAF, a community interest company launched to support queer creatives to kickstart, build and grow their media careers, has launched a podcast, What The Pox?, with award-winning podcaster Martin Joseph. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
FILE PHOTO: Test tube labelled “Monkeypox virus positive” is seen in this illustration taken May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Health Update on vaccination to protect against Monkeypox in England As of August 10, around 27,000 people have been vaccinated by the NHS and in sexual health services in England, including 25,325 gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
FILE PHOTO: Test tube labelled “Monkeypox virus positive” is seen in this illustration taken May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Health Terrence Higgins Trust: “Monkeypox vaccine supplies running low in the UK” “It’s high time we got a proper grip on the monkeypox response and for that we need to see this taken seriously at the highest level of Government.” By Graham Robson • 1 min read
FILE PHOTO: Test tube labelled “Monkeypox virus positive” is seen in this illustration taken May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Health LGBTQ+ groups for political parties unite to call for urgent Government action to tackle rising number of monkeypox cases The joint letter to Secretary of State for Health, Steve Barclay MP, has been signed by the LGBTQ+ groups for the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Greens and Scottish National Party. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Birmingham Umbrella Health Birmingham – monkeypox information Umbrella Health is now able to vaccinate people who are at high risk of contracting monkeypox. However, due to very limited stocks of the vaccine, these will be offered “through routine services based on the risk level of the person, in the same way we offer other vaccines such as hepatitis A and HP By Catherine Muxworthy • 1 min read