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The government's handling of monkeypox has been severely criticised by an alliance of the country's leading sexual health professionals, who warn the outbreak could last months and risk the virus becoming "endemic if urgent action is not taken".
In a statement seen by Sky News, the group - including public health directors and leading sexual health charities - warns about a shortage of smallpox vaccines used to protect high-risk groups from monkeypox.
Dr John McSorley, immediate past president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), told Sky News: "It looks like we're in for an outbreak that is going to last for the rest of the year at least before it is averted.
"But that runs the risk, if that happens, unless you get ahead of epidemics actually what you find is that you tend to fall behind.
"They're always unpredictable but what we'd like to do is be able to have access to more vaccines more quickly and able to distribute it more effectively and all of that requires resource."
It comes as the latest figures show that there were 1,735 confirmed cases in the UK as of Monday - with 1,660 of these in England alone - according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
In a statement seen by Sky News, the group - including public health directors and leading sexual health charities - warns about a shortage of smallpox vaccines used to protect high-risk groups from monkeypox.
Dr John McSorley, immediate past president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), told Sky News: "It looks like we're in for an outbreak that is going to last for the rest of the year at least before it is averted.
"But that runs the risk, if that happens, unless you get ahead of epidemics actually what you find is that you tend to fall behind.
"They're always unpredictable but what we'd like to do is be able to have access to more vaccines more quickly and able to distribute it more effectively and all of that requires resource."
It comes as the latest figures show that there were 1,735 confirmed cases in the UK as of Monday - with 1,660 of these in England alone - according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Monkeypox could become 'endemic' if urgent action isn't taken, experts warn
Leading sexual health professionals have warned about a shortage of vaccines used to protect groups from the disease.
news.sky.com