Singapore confirms one more imported case of monkeypox infection

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Thursday (July 7) confirmed one more imported case of monkeypox infection in Singapore.

The patient is a 36-year-old male Indian national who lives in Singapore and had recently returned from the United States.

The man is warded at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) and his condition is stable, said the ministry in a situation update on its website on Thursday.

"The man developed anal discomfort on June 28, and other symptoms, including rashes typical of monkeypox progressively over the next few days," said MOH.

He sought medical care on Wednesday and was taken to NCID on the same day. He tested positive for monkeypox on Thursday.

Contact tracing is ongoing, said the ministry.

Singapore reported its first monkeypox case, an imported case, after a 42-year-old British national who works as a flight attendant tested positive last month.

It reported its first local infection on Wednesday, a 45-year-old male Malaysian national who resides in Singapore.

All three cases are not linked.

Monkeypox is a viral disease that is caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. It is typically a self-limiting illness where patients recover within two to four weeks.

"A small percentage of those infected can fall seriously ill or even die. Those particularly vulnerable to complications are young children, pregnant women or immunocompromised individuals," said the ministry previously.

It added that the risk to the general public remains low as transmission requires close physical or prolonged contact. CNA