(CNN) — Rare case monkey pox or monkeypox was diagnosed in a patient in England, the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) said. in a statement on Saturday.
According to the UKHSA, “the patient had a recent history of travel from Nigeria, where it is believed he contracted the infection, prior to traveling to the UK.”
The patient is being treated at the specialist infectious diseases and isolation unit at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London.
The UK agency added that monkeypox is a rare viral infection that does not spread easily between humans, calling the overall risk to the general public “very low”.
“Infection can spread when a person comes into close contact with an infected person; however, there is a very low risk of transmission to the general population,” the statement read.
According to UKSHA, initial symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills and fatigue.
UKSHA said it would contact people “who may have been in close contact with the individual to provide health information and advice” as a precaution.
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