A notice regarding monkeypox stands at an arrival gate at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on May 27, 2022. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
SEOUL, June 22 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea on Wednesday confirmed its first case of monkeypox infection, prompting concerns over the possibility of the spread of the virus.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said the patient, who arrived at Incheon International Airport from Germany at 4 p.m. Tuesday, has tested positive for the virus.
The person has been in isolation treatment at Incheon Medical Center, west of Seoul, since arriving in South Korea.
The person reportedly had a headache two days before departing and showed symptoms of fever, sore throat, lethargy and skin lesions when arriving in South Korea.
An epidemiology survey showed the person had no high-risk associates, meaning family members or anyone who had regular or sexual contact within 21 days.
KDCA said it was actively monitoring health conditions of those who sat near the patient on the person’s arrival flight.
The agency also raised the country’s monkeypox risk level from “attention” to “caution” and decided to bolster measures against the spread of the virus.
A foreigner who has been hospitalized in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, after showing possible symptoms of monkeypox has tested negative. The person was found to have chickenpox.
A passenger arriving from overseas enters the arrival lobby of Terminal 1 at Incheon airport, west of Seoul, on June 22, 2022. (Yonhap)
The virus, traditionally confined to regions in Central and Western Africa, can cause symptoms that include fever, chills, rash 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.
Health authorities have designated monkeypox as a second-degree infectious disease out of a four-tier system. Currently, 22 contagious diseases including COVID-19, cholera and chickenpox are included in the same category.
Officials said last week 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 monkeypox patients, health authorities said.
(Yonhap)
