Anyone who tests positive for the monkeypox virus should not have sex until they are symptom free.
The U.K. Health Security Agency recommended that people who have been exposed to the disease continue to use condoms for eight weeks after the disease has passed.
The risks to the general public are low, but the health agency encourages people to contact a health professional if they notice a strange rash.
The advice comes after Britain recorded an additional 71 cases of the virus over the weekend, bringing the U.K. total to 179 less than a month after its first case.
The U.K. has the highest number of monkeypox cases among non-endemic countries, followed by Spain and Portugal.
There were over 500 confirmed and suspected cases of monkeypox in countries outside of Africa as of Monday.
Central and West African countries have a rare infectious disease called monkeypox. There are many symptoms, including rash, headaches, muscle ache, swelling and back pain.
Health experts have voiced concern over the recent spike in cases in countries where monkeypox does not usually spread, and the growing risks of community transmission.
According to the World Health Organization, the majority of cases have been spread through sex, with a particular concentration of cases occurring within the gay and bisexual communities and men who have sex with men.
A section of skin tissue, harvested from a lesion on the skin of a monkey, that had been infected with monkeypox virus, is seen at 50X magnification on day four of rash development in 1968.The public health body said Monday that it was not yet clear whether the recent outbreak could lead to a global Pandemic but that there is currently a window of opportunity to curb rising cases.
The world has an opportunity to stop this outbreak. Rosamund Lewis, the WHO's technical lead for monkeypox, said there is a window.
The World Health Organization is considering whether the outbreak should be declared a public health emergency of international concern.
If you suspect that you have contracted monkeypox, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible.
Initial symptoms of monkeypox include a high temperature, headaches, muscle ache, swelling and back pain. Within one to five days, the skin on the face, hands, feet, eyes, mouth, and genitals will begin to show signs of irritation. Those blisters may fill with white fluid before they break and scabbing over.
Medical confirmation is important because many of the symptoms of the virus can be confused with other diseases.
If you are diagnosed with monkeypox, the U.K. advises you to stay isolated until the virus has passed. If you have close contact with someone with monkeypox, you may be asked to isolation for 21 days.
Most people recover from the illness in two to four weeks. The U.K.'s National Health Service notes that you may need to stay in a hospital to prevent the spread of infections.
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