Doctors working with monkeypox patients should wear full protective equipment, according to new UK-wide guidance.
Doctors who are pregnant or immunosuppressed should have no contact with these patients, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
It says doctors and other healthcare staff should wear FFP3 respirators, aprons, eye protection and glove for working with patients with confirmed infection. When infection is suspected, at a minimum doctors should wear fluid repellent facemasks, gowns, gloves and eye protection.
The guidance says that people with possible monkeypox should avoid contact with other people until lesions have healed and scabs have dried off, according to the guidance.
The UKHSA also proposes offering the Imvanex vaccine to health care workers about to care for a patient with confirmed infection – and also those in sexual health services who may identify suspected cases of infection. The vaccine is already being offered to close contacts of infected patients.
Dr Ruth Milton, senior medical adviser at the UKHSA, said: “This new monkeypox guidance sets out important measures for healthcare professionals and the public for managing the disease including how to safely isolate at home and reduce the risk to others.
“The highest risk of transmission is through direct contact with someone with monkeypox. The risk to the UK population remains low and anyone with unusual rashes or lesions on any part of their body should immediately contact NHS 111 or their local sexual health service.”
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