Karl Lauterbach (right), Federal Minister of Health, and Lothar Wieler, president of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), hold a press conference on monkeypox in Bremen, Germany on May 24. Lauterbach said recommendations on isolation and quarantine are currently being drawn up. As of Sunday afternoon, there were four confirmed cases of monkeypox in Germany. Photo: VCG

As the number of monkeypox cases in Britain reached 366, a survey revealed that intimate contact seems to be the main channel of transmission.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) published its first technical briefing Friday on the ongoing monkeypox outbreak following detailed interviews with patients which are helping health experts to understand transmission and to determine how to target interventions.

Professor Paul Hunter of the University of East Anglia told the Xinhua News Agency on Saturday that the briefing by the UKHSA highlighted the risks of the disease being spread.

"Transmission of monkeypox seems to be almost exclusively being transmitted by close and intimate contact," Hunter said, "so people should avoid contact with people who could be infected, especially if they have a rash."

In its end of week update UKHSA said a further 43 additional cases of monkeypox in England, one additional case in Scotland and one additional case in Wales have been identified. It brought to 366 the total number confirmed of cases in Britain as of June 9.

There are currently 348 confirmed cases in England, 12 in Scotland, two in Northern Ireland and four in Wales.

The agency said of the cases interviewed, 81 percent were known to be London residents and 99 percent were male. The average age of confirmed cases in Britain is 38 years old.

Of the 152 men interviewed, 151 identified as gay, bisexual, or men who have sex with men, or reported same sex contact. Recent foreign travel, within 21 days prior to symptom onset, was reported by 75 cases, with 59 reporting travel in Europe.

Xinhua