26-9-2023 (HANOI) A woman in southern Vietnam has become the first known case of community transmission of monkeypox in the country. The 22-year-old woman contracted the virus from her boyfriend, marking a concerning development in the country’s fight against the disease.
The Binh Duong Department of Health confirmed the woman’s diagnosis and reported that she is currently in quarantine at the Tan Uyen City medical center. Authorities have swiftly taken measures to disinfect areas in the vicinity of her residence, and the Binh Duong Center for Disease Control (CDC) is actively conducting contact tracing to prevent further infections.
The woman’s boyfriend was previously confirmed to have contracted monkeypox by the CDC in the neighboring Dong Nai Province, marking the third known case of the disease in Vietnam. His girlfriend’s diagnosis now constitutes the fourth case.
Vietnam’s first two cases of monkeypox were reported in 2022 but involved individuals who contracted the virus abroad and were immediately quarantined upon returning to the country. This prevented the risk of community transmission.
The source of the infection for the third case remains unknown, according to the Dong Nai CDC. The man began exhibiting symptoms such as fever, chills, and blisters on September 17. He initially sought treatment at a private clinic, but his symptoms did not improve. On September 22, he visited the HCMC Hospital of Dermato Venereology for a diagnosis. While his fever had subsided, he presented with lymph node swelling and rashes on various parts of his body. The hospital suspected a case of monkeypox, and subsequent tests conducted at the HCMC Pasteur Institute confirmed the diagnosis. The man is currently in quarantine in HCMC.
The man, described as a freelancer who frequently interacts with various people, had not been in contact with foreigners. He returned home in Dong Nai’s Xuan Loc District on September 2 and came into contact with four family members. He also interacted with his girlfriend on September 16.
The HCMC CDC has identified eight people in close contact with the infected man, including his girlfriend. All others have shown no unusual symptoms and are currently instructed to stay at home and self-monitor for 21 days.
The global resurgence of monkeypox began in May 2022 and has appeared in countries that had not previously encountered the virus, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Belgium. Over 90,000 confirmed cases have been reported worldwide, with death rates reaching as high as 11%. In response to the escalating outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency on July 23, 2022.
Symptoms of monkeypox include the development of rashes, blisters, fever, aches, and fatigue, with an incubation period ranging from 5 to 21 days. Currently, Vietnam lacks a vaccine or cure for monkeypox.
