One person remains in hospital after two cases identified

Health officials have issued a statement confirming that two cases of monkeypox have been identified in North Wales.

It comes after UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said this morning he is "dealing with an outbreak of monkeypox, and cases of drug-resistant TB'".

Public Health Wales has now issued a statement confirming that "two cases of imported monkeypox" had been identified.

The statement reads: "Public Health Wales and Public Health England are monitoring two cases of imported monkeypox identified in North Wales.

"The index case was acquired overseas, and the two cases are members of the same household. Both cases were admitted to a hospital in England, where one currently remains.

"Monitoring and follow-up of the cases and their close contacts are undertaken as part of normal practice, and the risk to the general public is very low."

Richard Firth, Consultant in Health Protection at Public Health Wales, said: "Confirmed cases of monkeypox are a rare event in the UK, and the risk to the general public is very low.

Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease that occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa and is occasionally exported to other regions. Monkeypox typically presents clinically with fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes.

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