Festivals may be monkeypox superspreaders, experts fear | News – The Times

Music festivals could act as superspreader events for monkeypox this summer, public health experts fear.

There have been 106 confirmed cases in the UK — most in England — and officials have said their pattern indicates community transmission.

Monkeypox is endemic in parts of Africa and a handful of historic cases in the UK have been linked to travel in affected regions.

Infection occurs because of contact with contaminated animals or people and results in a rash or small bumps on the skin

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The majority of cases in the outbreak have been in gay or bisexual men. Dr Will Nutland of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said he feared that festivals being held over the summer could help the virus to spread.

Nutland is also co-founder of Prepster, a group of London-based HIV prevention activists who are helping raise awareness about the virus.