Health Ministry records two cases of monkeypox

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has recorded two cases of monkeypox, the Health Ministry confirms.

Health Director-General Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan said the first case was confirmed on July 26, involving a foreign man, who has been living and working in Malaysia since April 2022.

He said the person travelled to a country with reported cases of monkeypox on July 6, and returned to Malaysia on July 10.

"He started showing symptoms on July 19, and blisters began to appear on July 23. He was isolated and released on Aug 10, after a full recovery without complications," Dr Muhammad Radzi said in a statement on Friday (Aug 25).

The second case, a local man, experienced symptoms while in quarantine as he had close contact with the index case.

Dr Muhammad said the man was ordered to undergo quarantine on July 27, and confirmed positive for monkeypox on July 29.

The second patient is still in good health while being isolated, he added.

"All contacts of the first patient have been identified and their health status monitored.

"No one showed any symptoms of monkeypox infection except for the second patient," he said.

The incubation period before an individual starts showing symptoms of monkeypox is between five to 21 days from the date of exposure.

Individuals with monkeypox become infectious one day before symptoms appear until all blisters completely dry up.

Usually, monkeypox cases heal in time without needing any treatment.

All travellers arriving from countries with reported monkeypox are advised to monitor their health daily for symptoms for a period of 21 days from the date of arrival in Malaysia.

Among the symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache and a maculopapular rash that starts on the face spreading to the palms and soles followed by other parts of the body.

Others may also experience fatigue, pain in the back or joints, muscle spasms and swollen lymph nodes.

Medical practitioners are asked to be sensitive to individuals with blister symptoms seeking treatment, especially among high-risk groups.

Currently, there are 10 laboratories providing monkeypox detection test services.

The nearest health office should be notified of suspected cases via the e-notification system to allow further investigation and control measures carried out by the district health office.