Inverness Sheriff Court adjourned over fears witness has contracted monkeypox

A court case has been adjourned amid concerns a witness is suffering from a suspected case of monkeypox.

The trial at Inverness Sheriff Court has been temporarily suspended until July while the person involved is tested for the disease.

On Monday it was confirmed that one person in Scotland is in hospital with the viral infection.

The defendant’s solicitor raised a motion to adjourn with fiscal depute Karen Poke prior to proceedings getting underway on Tuesday, May 24.

It comes as the number of recorded cases of the condition rose to 78 across the UK, according to the latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service said: “The case has been adjourned today due to the crown witness being absent, due to a suspected case of monkeypox.”

The UK Government has said contacts of monkeypox cases at high risk of having caught the infection should self-isolate for 21 days.

Common symptoms include a blister-like rash or small number of blister-like sores can develop, often beginning on the face, then spreading to other parts of the body, including the genital area.

They may also feature a high temperature, headache, muscle ache, backache, swollen glands, shivering and exhaustion and are thought to take between five and 21 days to present themselves after exposure

What are the symptoms?

Initial symptoms of monkeypox