Lincolnshire officials "working with" UK authorities to monitor monkeypox
21 cases have now been confirmed in the UK
No monkeypox cases have been found yet in Lincolnshire, public health bosses have confirmed.
There have been 21 confirmed cases in the UK since the virus began spreading a month ago.
The public has been reassured the risk to them remains low.
Lincolnshire public health teams say they are continuing to work with the UK Health Security Agency to monitor the situation.
Andy Fox, assistant director of Lincolnshire Public Health, said: “We are aware of reports of a small number of recent cases of monkeypox in England.
“Although there are currently no confirmed or suspected cases in Lincolnshire, we are working with the UK Health Security Agency to monitor the situation.
“Monkeypox is usually a mild and self-limiting illness, and the virus that causes it does not spread easily between people. The risk to the population remains low, however we would suggest that anyone with unusual rashes or lesions on any part of their body should contact NHS 111 if they have concerns.”
Some people asked to self-isolate
People who have been in close contact with someone who has caught the virus should isolate for 21 days, according to the latest guidance from the UK Health Security Agency.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said monkeypox was a rare disease but it was important to "keep an eye on it".
He told reporters on a visit to a school in south-east London: "It's basically very rare disease, and so far the consequences don't seem to be very serious but it's important that we keep an eye on it and that's exactly what the the new UK Health Security Agency is doing. "
Asked whether there should be quarantine for visitors or the use of the smallpox vaccine, Mr Johnson said: "As things stand the judgment is that it's rare.
"I think we're looking very carefully at the circumstances of transmission. "It hasn't yet proved, fatal in any case that we know of, certainly not in this country."
The Government has stocks of the smallpox vaccine, which is being offered to very close contacts of those who have been affected.
Those at the highest risk of contracting the disease are being asked to self-isolate at home for 21 days, with others warned to be on the lookout for symptoms.
The disease is usually mild but can cause severe illness in some cases.
Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion.
A rash can develop, often beginning on the face, which then spreads to other parts of the body including the genitals.
The first case identified in the UK was in a person who had returned from Nigeria, but other cases are unrelated to travel.
According to the UKHSA, monkeypox does not usually spread easily between people and the overall risk to the UK population remains low.
Anyone with unusual rashes or lesions on any part of their body, especially their genitalia, should contact NHS 111 or call a sexual health service if they have concerns, it said.