The second ever case of monkeypox has been recorded in the UK, heath bosses have confirmed.

The patient, who is believed to have contracted the infection while travelling in Nigeria, is the second known case to be recorded in the UK just days after the first incident was announced on Friday.

The second patient attended Blackpool Victoria Hospital and, following a positive test result, was transferred to Royal Liverpool University Hospital, an expert respiratory infectious disease centre, Public Health England (PHE) announced today.

The body said it was now working hard to contact individuals who may have come into contact with the individual to provide health advice.

The case is the second recording in a matter of days after more than 50 people were warned over the weekend they may have been exposed to monkeypox after the first case of the deadly disease was recorded last week.

It is believed a Nigerian naval officer travelled to the UK on a commercial fight after contracting the disease.

He stayed at a Royal Navy base in Cornwall while taking part in a training exercise before being confirmed to have the disease on Friday.