RUSSIA: The Russian Federal agency for the surveillance of consumer rights and human welfare has said in a statement on Tuesday that the nation has recorded the first confirmed case of monkeypox. “A youth, who had returned to Russia after a trip from European countries, turned to medical treatment because of a characteristic rash,” it further added.
According to the Xinhua news agency, the patient has been quarantined and is under medical supervision while displaying mild symptoms. The Federal agency also stated that the situation is under control and strict precautionary measures have been taken to eliminate any signs of possible transmission.
According to the Russian Federation’s Ministry of Health, the country’s healthcare system has been gearing up for a huge influx of monkeypox patients, with medical supplies, and circulating medical instructions for prevention, diagnosis and treatment throughout the country, since May.
“They are intended for medical personnel and healthcare administrators, as well as other specialists working in the field of laboratory and instrumental diagnostics and organizing the provision of medical care to patients with monkeypox,” it added.
Monkeypox is a rare disease that originates from the same viral family tree and is typically endemic to West and Central Africa. It has recently caused great alarm after First World countries in Europe and the United States reported a few cases.
The virus predominantly spreads through interconnected sexual networks of homosexuals, bisexuals and men who have sex with men, according to Britain’s Health Security Agency.
Fever, body aches, and red rashes are common symptoms of monkeypox; most people recover early on their own within a few weeks.
World Health Organisation (WHO) formerly declined to declare monkeypox a global health emergency but is now reconsidering its decision. It emphasized that the reassessment would be based on several factors- if cases are more rampant amongst sex workers, the virus spreads more quickly or if the disease is more serious than it appears.
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