23 May 2022 | 11:45 PM UTC
Israel: Single confirmed case of monkeypox reported in Tel Aviv as of late May; risk of wider transmission is considered low
Israeli authorities report single case of monkeypox in Tel Aviv during late May; low risk of wider transmission.
Event
Israeli health officials confirmed a single imported case of monkeypox in Tel Aviv May 21 in a traveler returning from a trip to Western Europe. The individual is quarantined with mild symptoms; there is no indication of continued monkeypox transmission within Israel as of May 24.
Context
Cases in this outbreak have primarily but not exclusively been identified among men who have sex with men (MSM), highlighting the importance of vigilant safe sexual practices. This outbreak suggests monkeypox can be sexually transmitted while the infected person displays few or no symptoms; however, risk is currently assessed as low for individuals not routinely engaging with multiple or anonymous sexual partners.
Monkeypox does not naturally occur in the Middle East; most cases are reported in West and Central Africa, primarily in the DRC, Nigeria, and Cameroon among individuals who report contact with wild primates or other mammals which may harbor the disease.
Monkeypox is caused by a virus that belongs to the same family as the virus that causes smallpox. However, monkeypox is not the same as smallpox, and it does not have the same capacity for rapid human-to-human transmission. Monkeypox is mainly transmitted to humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected rodents or primates. Human-to-human transmission primarily occurs through close personal contact with an infected individual via respiratory droplets, direct contact with bodily fluids, or indirect contact with lesion material (e.g., contaminated clothing or bedding). Symptoms typically appear 6-16 days after exposure but can develop up to 21 days after exposure. Symptoms generally include fever, headache, muscle aches and backaches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a distinctive rash characterized by lesions that progress through several stages before falling off.
Advice
Practice basic health precautions, including frequent handwashing with soap and water, covering the nose and mouth when coughing, and avoiding obviously ill individuals. Avoid overcrowded areas and consider using safe sexual practices, such as physical barriers (condoms), in countries reporting monkeypox transmission. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop within two weeks of being in affected areas.
