Singapore confirms imported case of monkeypox virus after flight attendant develops fever and rashes, first in Southeast Asia

On Tuesday (Jun 21), the Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed an imported case of monkeypox infection in Singapore. Monkeypox is a viral disease that is caused by infection with the monkeypox virus.

This is the first reported case in Southeast Asia this year. The patient is a 42-year-old British national. The man works as a flight attendant who was in Singapore between Jun 15 and Jun 17, and again on Jun 19. The man had a headache on Jun 14 and a fever on Jun 16. These symptoms subsequently resolved, and he then developed skin rashes on Jun 19. He then tested positive for monkeypox on Jun 20.

The MOH said that the man is currently warded at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) and his condition is stable. During this period, the man had primarily remained in his hotel room, except to visit a massage establishment and eat at three food establishments on Jun 16.

All four locations visited by the case are undergoing cleaning and disinfection,” said MOH.

As of Jun 21, 13 close contacts have been identified. MOH said all close contacts will be placed in quarantine for 21 days since their last contact with the case.

Infected individuals would typically experience fever, headache, muscle ache, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, lethargy and skin rash.

The incubation period ranges from five to 21 days. Those with the infection are generally infectious from the onset of fever until the skin lesions have scabbed over. /TISG