A visiting Nigerian naval officer has been diagnosed with monkeypox in the United Kingdom, Public Health England (PHE) has said.
Friday’s discovery is the first time the viral infection will be recorded in the UK.
The patient, who was staying at a naval base in Cornwall, was transferred to the expert infectious disease unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London on Saturday morning.
He is believed to have contracted the infection in Nigeria before travelling to the UK.
PHE said that as a precautionary measure, it is working with experts in the NHS to contact a number of people who were on the same flight as the patient.
The body has not revealed whether the patient is a member of the military, or confirmed their gender.
PHE said in a statement: “People without symptoms are not considered infectious but, as a precaution, those who have been in close proximity are being contacted to ensure that if they do become unwell they can be treated quickly.”
The organisation said passengers that are not contacted need take no action.
