Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has called on the government to “rapidly ensure that an appropriately coordinated and resourced approach” is taken to combat the monkeypox outbreak.
He also offered his full support in ensuring that appropriate prevention and testing, as well as assessment and treatment, can be “delivered without delay.”
His letter, which was sent to the newly appointed Health Secretary, Steve Barclay, on 15 July, also highlighted the growing number of monkeypox cases across the country.
As of 11 July, there were 1,735 laboratory confirmed cases in the UK, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
London is currently seeing the highest rates of infection, with the number of reported cases more than doubling in just six days.
You can learn more about monkeypox here and can read the Mayor of London’s letter to the government in full below:
Dear Steve,
I am writing to you today out of concern for Londoners’ health, as we continue to see a rise in monkeypox cases in our city and the rest the UK.
As you will know, London is currently seeing the highest rates of infection, with 1,229 confirmed cases as of 11 July, making up 75% of cases nationwide. Even more concerning is the number of reported cases has more than doubled in six days, to over 250 new diagnoses, since the last data report on 7 July.
This outbreak is not yet under control and I note the statement shared this week by a coalition of expert organisations including: the National AIDS Trust, the British HIV Association, the Association of Directors of Public Health, the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV and the Terence Higgins Trust, calling on the Government to step up its response to the monkeypox outbreak.
An inadequate response would have implications for public health, and for our National Health Service’s ability to cope with rising demand whilst being significantly underfunded and continuing to meet the challenge of rising COVID infections.
The current response appears focussed on those who are already infected and showing symptoms. I am concerned that this leaves Londoners without clear guidance on how to avoid getting infected with monkeypox. There is also a lack of clarity and support for people seeking testing and clinical pathways to obtain effective care, whether in hospital or in the community. I call on the Government to rapidly ensure that an appropriately coordinated and resourced approach to both prevention and testing, assessment and treatment is delivered without delay.
The NHS has moved quickly to vaccinate healthcare workers caring for people with monkeypox, and close contacts of anyone diagnosed with monkeypox. I would appreciate reassurance from Government that there will be sufficient vaccines available for those at high risk, particularly gay, bisexual men and men who have sex with men in order that we do not miss a crucial opportunity to eliminate the outbreak through a fully funded, targeted, pre-exposure vaccination programme. I recognise and welcome the NHS’s efforts to mobilise this new programme, and hope a timeline will soon be set out for a full roll out.
I’m in regular contact with the OHID, UKHSA and the NHS who are closely monitoring the situation, and through my regular meetings with public health leaders continue to ensure that everything possible is being done to help and support Londoners, but it’s time to step things up. If we learned anything from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that early action and coordination is vital to get ahead of the curve.
London played an important and successful part in the NHS’s COVID vaccine roll-out, and I am certain that we can respond once more but it is vital that the resources and coordination is in place to address this latest health threat.
In the meantime, I would like to offer our support to do everything we can to make sure Londoners have the information and support they need, and this includes using our communications channels to amplify messages and any public health campaign that the government mobilises on this important issue.
Yours sincerely,
Sadiq Khan
Mayor of London
Copied to:
Minister for London, Paul Scully MP
Minister for Vaccines, Maggie Throup MP
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