Noting that he updated Group of Seven health ministers on the information, Health Secretary Sajid Javid tweeted on Friday that most cases are mild.

"I can confirm we have procured further doses of vaccines that are effective against Monkeypox," he added.

Monkeypox is usually a mild self-limiting illness, spread by very close contact with someone with monkeypox and most people recover within a few weeks, the UKHSA said, adding that a notable proportion of early cases detected have been in gay and bisexual men.

"We expect this increase to continue in the coming days and for more cases to be identified in the wider community. Alongside this we are receiving reports of further cases being identified in other countries globally," said Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UKHSA.

Nevertheless, the agency said that while the infection can be passed on through close contact or contact with clothing or linens used by a person who has monkeypox, the virus does not usually spread easily between people and the risk to the UK population remains low.

An investigation into the source of these infections was ongoing.

(With UNI/Xinhua inputs)