China records first monkeypox case
- The infected patient, who had arrived in Chongqing from overseas, developed symptoms while in Covid quarantine
- China has been on high alert for the disease since it started spreading rapidly in Europe and the Americas earlier this year
Chongqing’s health commission said the patient, whose age and sex have not been released, had flown to the city from overseas. They developed symptoms, including a rash, while in quarantine for Covid-19.
Lab results from both the Chongqing and the national centre for disease control and prevention showed the patient was infected with the monkeypox virus. An expert panel from the central government confirmed the diagnosis on Friday.
The patient is being treated in isolation at a designated hospital and is in a stable condition, according to the commission. All close contacts are under isolation for medical observation, though it did not give details of those contacts.
“Experts concluded that the patient had been isolated in quarantine upon entry into Chongqing and had no record of social activities. The risk of … an epidemic is low,” the statement said.
The commission advised inbound travellers from countries with reported monkeypox cases to carry out health monitoring and contact the health authorities if they had contact with patients. Those who are travelling to such countries need to avoid sharing items with monkeypox patients and avoid sexual contact with suspected cases.