First Monkeypox Case Reported in Macau

First Monkeypox Case Reported in Macau

First Monkeypox Case in Macao

The first case of monkeypox has been reported in Macao, China’s Special Administrative Region (SAR). The patient, a 29-year-old male resident of Macao, had recently traveled to Hong Kong SAR and Zhuhai, a neighboring mainland city. The Health Bureau of the Macao SAR government revealed that the patient is currently in stable condition and receiving treatment in a local hospital.

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Rising Risk of Transmission

With the first monkeypox case surfacing, the Health Bureau warns of an increasing transmission risk. The public is advised to avoid high-risk behaviors and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms develop. Symptoms of monkeypox include an unexplained acute rash, back pain, Swollen lymph nodes, acute onset of fever, headaches, muscle pain, body aches, and a state of low energy.

Vaccination for High-Risk Residents

The Macao SAR government is taking action by offering free vaccination to residents evaluated by doctors as having high risks of exposure to the disease. Non-residents falling into this category can opt to pay for the vaccination. This preventive measure aims to curb the spread of the contagious disease.

About Monkeypox

Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. The virus can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with an infected person, with contaminated materials, or with infected animals. Most people fully recover from the disease, but some may get very sick.

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Global Spread of Monkeypox

This report comes one week after Hong Kong reported its first monkeypox case, similarly detected in a patient during quarantine. Before that, monkeypox was reported in Taiwan in June. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared monkeypox a global health emergency on July 23. According to a WHO report released on September 7, from January 1 through September 4, 2022, there have been 52,996 laboratory-confirmed cases of monkeypox and 18 deaths reported from 102 countries and regions.

Preventive Measures and Recommendations

Experts suggest high vigilance, strict surveillance, and timely warning signs to help researchers develop countermeasures against monkeypox. Some European countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, have seen a clear slowing of the outbreak, demonstrating the effectiveness of public health interventions and community engagement to track infections and prevent transmission. Strict customs quarantine inspection has also been proposed to prevent imported cases.

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