Imported Case Of Monkeypox Is 42-Year-Old British Flight Attendant
On Tuesday (21 Jun), Singapore confirmed one imported case of monkeypox involving a 42-year-old British male who works as a flight attendant.
He is currently warded at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) and is in stable condition.
Contact tracing is ongoing, but authorities have identified 13 close contacts so far. They have all been quarantined.
Imported case of monkeypox flew in & out of Singapore
According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), the patient was in Singapore between 15 and 17 Jun. He returned to the country on 19 Jun as he flew in and out of the country.
He started having headaches on 14 Jun and a fever on 16 Jun.
Although the symptoms eventually went away, his condition became a cause for concern as he developed skin rashes on 19 Jun.
After seeking medical attention through teleconsultation that night, he was admitted to NCID for assessment.
Source: Google Maps
He tested positive for monkeypox on 20 Jun.
Risk of transmission is low
MOH said they are currently carrying out contact tracing efforts for affected flights and his period of stay in Singapore.
During this time, the patient mostly stayed in his hotel room. But on 16 Jun, he visited a massage parlour and dined at three eateries.
MOH deduced that the risk of transmission to visitors at the places above is low. This is because monkeypox is known to transmit through close physical or prolonged contact with an infected individual.
The four locations are undergoing cleaning and disinfection.
13 close contacts identified
As of Tuesday (21 Jun), authorities identified 13 close contacts. All of them are currently serving a 21-day quarantine, starting from the day they last had contact with the patient.
Two more low-risk contacts are on phone surveillance for 21 days. During this period, they will receive phone calls every day as a means to monitor their symptoms.
If anyone shows signs of possible infection, they will be sent to the NCID immediately for evaluation and isolation.
Keep a high standard of personal hygiene
As monkeypox continues to put countries on heightened alert, MOH strongly advises members of the public to:
- maintain a high standard of personal hygiene
- wash hands regularly, especially after going to the washroom
- avoid direct contact with skin lesions of infected persons or animals, dead or alive
- avoid direct contact with objects contaminated with infectious fluids, such as soiled clothing and linens
- do not have any contact with animals that are potential carriers of the virus
- stop consumption of bush meat
And above all, pay attention to any disease symptoms and seek medical attention immediately.
Here’s a useful infographic about monkeypox to take note of:
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Featured image adapted from NCID and World Health Organization.
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