A further 50 cases of monkeypox have been detected in the UK, taking the confirmed total to 574.
There are currently 550 confirmed cases in England, 16 in Scotland, two in Northern Ireland, and six in Wales.
Anyone is at risk of catching the virus, but currently, most cases have been in men who are gay, bisexual, or have sex with men.
Dr William Welfare, Incident Director at UKHSA, said: “As case numbers of monkeypox continue to rise and with many summer events and festivals ahead, we’re reminding people to be aware of the symptoms of monkeypox, particularly if you’ve recently had new or multiple sexual partners, to help prevent further spread and protect others.
“If you have a rash with blisters, or any other monkeypox symptoms, don’t go to events, meet with friends or have sexual contact. Instead, stay at home and contact 111 or your local sexual health service for advice. Please contact the clinic ahead of your visit and avoid close contact with others until you’ve been seen by a clinician.
“UKHSA is working closely with partners across the country, including event organisers and venues, to raise public awareness of monkeypox symptoms so everyone has a safe, happy and healthy summer.”
Members of the public are advised to contact a sexual health clinic if they have a rash with blisters if they have been in close contact with anyone who has – or might have had – monkeypox in the last three weeks, or anyone who has been to West or Central Africa in the past three weeks.
It comes as the virus is set to be renamed after the World Health Organisation said it needed a “non-discriminatory and non-stigmatizing” name.
A scientific paper released last week, signed by 29 experts, used the term “hMPXV” for the virus and called for a “speedy decision and adoption of a new name”.
Read more from Sky News: The real reason why COVID-19 got its name
They said the continued reference to the virus “being African is not only inaccurate but is also discriminatory and stigmatising”.
The WHO currently names two types of monkeypox as the “West African clade and the Congo Basin (Central African) clade”.
The scientists wrote: “There is an increasing narrative in the media and among many scientists that are trying to link the present global outbreak to Africa or West Africa, or Nigeria.”
Follow the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
There have been 1,600 confirmed and 1,500 suspected cases of monkeypox this year across 39 countries, with 72 deaths reported, the WHO said.
However, none of the deaths were recorded in the newly affected countries, which include the UK, Canada, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the US.
