There are a further three cases of monkeypox in Hertfordshire, health officials have said.

Hertfordshire County Council confirmed there are now five cases in the area.

The two previous cases were announced at the end of May.

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A council spokesperson said: “At the time of writing (17 June) we have five confirmed cases of monkeypox in Hertfordshire.

“It is spread through close contact. At present the majority of cases are in gay and bisexual men.

“We really recommend local gay and bisexual men, who are at risk, to come forward for assessment when they notice symptoms. Their proactive responses are helping reduce cases and transmission.”

The council has recommended visiting the Terence Higgins Trust website for more information on monkeypox. And if someone thinks they have been exposed to monkeypox they should call 111 for advice.  

According to The UK Health Security Agency, as of 16 June, there were 574 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the UK.

The NHS states that symptoms of monkeypox include, but are not limited to, a high temperature, a headache and muscle aches.

A rash usually appears one to five days after the first symptoms. It often begins on the face, then spreads to other parts of the body.

The symptoms usually clear up in two to four weeks.

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