Monkeypox case: All-clear given by MOH for 22 people in close contact with patient

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) said that 22 individuals, identified as close contacts of a monkeypox patient, do not have the rare disease.

In a statement on Tuesday (May 21), it also said that 18 of them will be released from quarantine by the end of Tuesday, after they have been monitored “for the maximum incubation period of 21 days from their last date of exposure to the patient”.

“As for the rest, the end dates of their quarantine period vary, with the last person scheduled to complete the quarantine on May 28,” its spokesperson said.

On May 9, the MOH confirmed that Singapore had its first imported case of monkeypox infection.

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by a virus and is primarily transmitted to humans from animals.

Individuals who are infected would typically experience fever, headache, muscle ache, backache, swollen lymph nodes and skin rash.

A 38-year-old Nigerian who travelled alone and arrived in Singapore on April 28 tested positive for monkeypox on May 1.

The MOH spokesperson said on Tuesday that the patient — who has not been named — is still receiving treatment in an isolation ward at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases.

“He is recovering well, and is in a stable condition. He will be ready for discharge when he has recovered and is assessed to be non-infectious.”

The MOH said previously that before the patient’s arrival in Singapore, he had attended a wedding in Nigeria, where he may have consumed bush meat, which could be a source of transmission of monkeypox virus.

He stayed in a hotel at 21 Lorong 8 Geylang from April 28 and attended a workshop at 3 Church Street on April 29 and 30.

He then developed fever, muscle ache, chills and skin rash and remained in his hotel room most of the time between May 1 and 7.

He was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital by ambulance on May 7 and transferred to the centre on the same day.

Based on MOH’s earlier investigations and contact tracing, 23 individuals were identified as close contacts of the patient, including 18 participants and trainers who attended the same workshop, a staff member at the workshop venue and four hotel employees.

A workshop participant had left Singapore on May 5 before the patient was seen and diagnosed at the hospital. This workshop participant has reported to MOH that he is well and MOH has informed the public health authority in his home country as a precaution.

Monkeypox is usually self-limiting, and most patients recover within two to three weeks.

The mortality rates have been reported to be between 1 and 10 per cent during outbreaks, with most deaths occurring in younger patients.