The medical director has said he is pretty sure Northern Ireland will see more cases of smallpox.
Professor Sir Michael McBride was speaking after the first case of the virus was confirmed here on Thursday, saying it was “not unexpected”.
In order to protect patient confidentiality, no further details are being disclosed about the new case.
Read more: Monkeypox Northern Ireland – First confirmed case in Northern Ireland
Smallpox is commonly associated with travel to West Africa and is usually a self-limiting virus that is spread by very close contact with someone who has been infected.
The current risk to the population in NI is considered low due to the fact that the virus does not spread easily.
Speaking to the press on Thursday afternoon, Sir Michael McBride said: “The Public Health Agency (PHA) is working closely with the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) and partner organizations in these islands in terms of identifying possible cases, likely cases or, in fact, any contact.
“The key messages are that this is not an infection that is easily transmitted between people, but may be through close contact. The risk to the general population is considered low.”
He added: “Given the length of the incubation period and the number of cases we have seen in the UK, Europe and around the world, we will see more cases, there is no doubt about that.
“There will always be cases and, in fact, there are cases under investigation at the moment. There is a very active process of tracking contacts of anyone who has been in contact with a confirmed case and these cases will be actively followed by the PHA … “
Read more related articles Read more related articles
Are you concerned about the spread of Monkeypox? Let us know in the comments section
A Multidisciplinary Incident Management Team (IMT) has also been set up here to ensure that Northern Ireland is fully prepared for any potential risks to the public.
“We want to prevent this from being established as an endemic infection in the UK because at the moment it is no different in parts of West and Central Africa,” Sir Michael added.
“We have a very good chance of doing that by taking all the steps we are currently taking on this coordinated public health response.”
The CMO added that it does not expect this new virus to affect people’s daily lives in the same way as Covid-19.
“It’s not as transmissible between people as some of the other common viruses. It’s not a virus established in the UK or Europe right now and we have a good chance of making sure it doesn’t spread,” he said. .
“It’s about breaking the chains of infection, actively monitoring cases and contacts. There’s every chance we could interrupt and contain it.
“However, it is a little ahead of us and now obviously we have to catch up as it is consolidating and appearing in so many other countries.”
Dr. Gillian Armstrong, PHA’s head of health protection, said officials have been working closely with health patrons and GPs to raise awareness about the disease and establish testing agreements and clinical pathways.
Dr. Armstrong said most people who contract monkeypox would recover in a few weeks.
“It spreads through very close person-to-person contact or with items used by a person who has smallpox, such as bedding,” he added.
“We have established a multidisciplinary incident management team here to make sure we are fully prepared for any potential or confirmed cases.
“We would like to urge anyone who thinks they may be at risk of exposure, especially those who have developed an unusual rash or injury to any part of their body, especially the genital area, and especially those who have a new recent sexual intercourse, limit your contact with others and contact your GP “.
The PHA has also been working with community and volunteer groups, including Rainbow, to raise awareness about monkeypox symptoms and actions to take if anyone thinks they have been at risk for exposure.
“A significant proportion of cases so far have been identified in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. We ask these particular people to know their symptoms,” Dr. Armstrong said.
“We will monitor contacts to identify any high-risk contacts who are advised to be isolated or who may be eligible for a vaccination to prevent them from developing monkeypox disease.”
Early symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and exhaustion.
A rash can develop, often starting in the face and then spreading to other parts of the body, including the genitals.
The rash changes and goes through different stages: it can look like chickenpox or syphilis, before finally forming a crust that then falls.
Earlier this week, the UKHSA said people should be isolated for 21 days if they have been in direct or domestic contact with a confirmed case.
Read more: Stormont seeks “new technology platform” to improve GP access for patients, says Health Minister
Read more: Northern Ireland Suicide Figures Review Results in “Downward Review” of Numbers
To receive the latest breaking news directly in your inbox, sign up for our free newsletter.