SINGAPORE – The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Thursday (July 7) confirmed another imported case of monkeypox in Singapore. The patient is a 36-year-old male Indian national living in Singapore who had recently returned from the United States, the MOH said. He tested positive for monkeypox on Thursday and is currently hospitalized at the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID). The man is not linked to previous cases of monkeypox, the ministry said. He added that contact tracing is ongoing. “The case developed rectal discomfort on June 28 and other symptoms, including rashes typical of monkeypox, progressed over the following days,” MOH said. On Wednesday, the man sought medical attention and was taken to the NCID the same day. Last month, Singapore reported its first case of imported smallpox since 2019 – a 42-year-old British man who works as a flight attendant. The country reported its first local case of monkeypox on Wednesday – a 45-year-old male Malaysian national. He tested positive on Wednesday and is currently being treated at the NCID. His condition is stable. All three cases are unrelated. The MOH said the risk of monkeypox transmission remains low as it requires close physical or prolonged contact. Monkeypox is usually a self-limiting disease where patients recover within two to four weeks, the MOH said, although a small percentage of those infected can become seriously ill or die. Particularly vulnerable to complications are young children, pregnant women or those who are immunocompromised. The MOH added that the monkeypox situation will continue to be closely monitored and public health responses will be calibrated as needed. Returning travelers, especially those from areas affected by monkeypox, should seek immediate medical attention if they develop 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.
