National
2022-06-22 09:40
Korea confirmed its first case of monkeypox infection Wednesday, prompting concerns over the possibility of the spread of the virus causing the disease.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), a person who arrived at Incheon International Airport from Germany at 4 p.m. Tuesday, tested positive for the virus. The patient has been in isolation treatment at Incheon Medical Center, west of Seoul, since then.
The KDCA raised the monkeypox risk level from "attention" to "caution" and decided to bolster measures against any spread of the virus.
A foreign visitor who was hospitalized in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, after showing possible symptoms of monkeypox, tested negative. The person arrived in Korea, Monday, and was admitted to the Busan hospital Tuesday.
The virus, traditionally confined to regions in Central and Western Africa, can cause symptoms that include fever, chills, rashes and lesions.
The country has been vigilant against a potential inflow of monkeypox as an increasing number of countries have reported cases of the viral disease, and international travel has increased following the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions.
The health authorities have designated monkeypox as a second-degree infectious disease on a four-tier system. Currently, 22 contagious diseases including COVID-19, cholera and chickenpox are included in the same category.
Officials said last week that the government is seeking to import the antiviral drug tecovirimat for 500 people next month.
Monkeypox patients will be treated in isolation in specialized hospitals, and a 21-day mandatory self-isolation period is being considered for those who have a high risk of transmission after being in close contact with them, the health authorities said. (Yonhap)
2022-06-22 09:40
Korea confirms 1st case of monkeypox infection
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| Test tubes labelled 'Monkeypox virus positive and negative' are seen in this May 23 photo. Reuters-Yonhap |
Korea confirmed its first case of monkeypox infection Wednesday, prompting concerns over the possibility of the spread of the virus causing the disease.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), a person who arrived at Incheon International Airport from Germany at 4 p.m. Tuesday, tested positive for the virus. The patient has been in isolation treatment at Incheon Medical Center, west of Seoul, since then.
The KDCA raised the monkeypox risk level from "attention" to "caution" and decided to bolster measures against any spread of the virus.
A foreign visitor who was hospitalized in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, after showing possible symptoms of monkeypox, tested negative. The person arrived in Korea, Monday, and was admitted to the Busan hospital Tuesday.
The virus, traditionally confined to regions in Central and Western Africa, can cause symptoms that include fever, chills, rashes and lesions.
The country has been vigilant against a potential inflow of monkeypox as an increasing number of countries have reported cases of the viral disease, and international travel has increased following the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions.
The health authorities have designated monkeypox as a second-degree infectious disease on a four-tier system. Currently, 22 contagious diseases including COVID-19, cholera and chickenpox are included in the same category.
Officials said last week that the government is seeking to import the antiviral drug tecovirimat for 500 people next month.
Monkeypox patients will be treated in isolation in specialized hospitals, and a 21-day mandatory self-isolation period is being considered for those who have a high risk of transmission after being in close contact with them, the health authorities said. (Yonhap)
