Singapore: Containment efforts continue after monkeypox case confirmed

Event

The Ministry of Health continues to conduct containment and quarantine efforts as of Wednesday, May 15, following confirmation of the country's first imported case of monkeypox on May 9. Officials reportedly quarantined at least 22 people who were in close contact with the patient and disinfected the patient's room at Hotel 81 Orchid as of Wednesday. None of those quarantined have exhibited any symptoms of the disease. 

Context

The Ministry of Health indicates a Nigerian national arrived in Singapore from Nigeria on April 28 and was later diagnosed with monkeypox on May 8. 

Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by a virus. Infection results from direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or rashes of infected animals (e.g. monkeys, Gambian rats, or squirrels). Secondary transmission is human-to-human, resulting from close contact with infected respiratory tract excretions, with the skin lesions of an infected person, or with recently contaminated objects. The infection can be divided into two periods: the invasion period symptoms of which include fever, intense headache, lymphadenopathy (swelling of the lymph node), back pain, myalgia (muscle aches), and an intense asthenia (lack of energy). In the second phase symptoms include a rash on the face (in 95 percent of cases) as well as on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet (75 percent of cases) and elsewhere on the body. There is no vaccine or treatment against the disease, although the smallpox vaccination has proven to be 85 percent effective in preventing monkeypox.

Advice

Individuals in Singapore should avoid take appropriate hygienic precautions (wash hands frequently and thoroughly, avoid contact with potentially infected persons, etc.) and follow any instructions provided by health authorities.