July 8, 2022
SINGAPORE – The Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed on Thursday (July 7) another imported case of monkeypox in Singapore.
The patient is a 36-year-old male Indian citizen who lives in Singapore and recently returned from the United States, the Ministry of Health said.
He tested positive for monkeypox on Thursday and is currently hospitalized at the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID).
The man was not linked to the earlier cases of monkeypox, the ministry said. He added that contact tracing is ongoing.
“The case developed anal discomfort on June 28 and other symptoms, including rashes typical of monkeypox, gradually developed over the next few days,” the MOH said.
On Wednesday, the man sought medical attention and was taken to the NCID the same day.
Last month, Singapore reported its first imported case of monkeypox since 2019 – a 42-year-old British man who worked as a flight attendant.
The country reported its first local case of monkeypox on Wednesday – a 45-year-old Malaysian man.
He tested positive on Wednesday and is currently hospitalized at NCID. His condition is stable.
All three cases are unrelated.
The MOH said the risk of transmission of monkeypox remains low given that close physical or prolonged contact is required.
Monkeypox is usually a self-limiting disease, with patients recovering within two to four weeks, the MoH said, although a small percentage of those infected can become seriously ill or die.
Those who are particularly vulnerable to complications are young children, pregnant women or people with weakened immune systems.
The MoH added that the monkeypox situation will continue to be closely monitored and public health responses will be calibrated as necessary.
Returning travelers, especially those from areas affected by monkeypox, should seek immediate medical attention if they develop any symptoms of illness within three weeks of their return and inform their doctor of their recent travel history.
These symptoms include sudden onset of high fever, swollen lymph nodes and rashes.
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