Moscow [Russia], July 12: Russia has confirmed its first monkeypox case. The case has been identified in a young man who recently returned from Europe, the country's consumer rights watchdog told reporters on Tuesday.
"The first case of monkeypox has been confirmed in Russia. The disease was detected in a young man who returned from a trip to Europe and came to a medical facility with a rash that is common [for this disease]," sources reported.
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Rospotrebnadzor clarified that the patient has mild symptoms and is isolated.
In the last week of June, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said the monkeypox outbreak does not currently constitute a global public health concern but added that "intense response efforts" are needed to control further spread.
The announcement comes after WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus convened an Emergency Committee on the disease, under the International Health Regulations (IHR), to address the rising caseload.
The PHEIC declaration is the highest level of global alert, which currently applies only to the Covid-19 pandemic and polio.
Monkeypox, a rare viral disease, occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa, though it is occasionally exported to other regions.
Since May, more than 3,000 cases have emerged in 47 countries, many of which have never previously reported the disease.
Tedros said he is deeply concerned by the spread of the disease, and that both he and WHO are following the evolving threat very closely.
"What makes the current outbreak especially concerning is the rapid, continuing spread into new countries and regions and the risk of further, sustained transmission into vulnerable populations including people that are immunocompromised, pregnant women and children," he said.
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The WHO chief noted that the Committee had pointed out that Monkeypox has been circulating in a number of African countries for decades and has been neglected in terms of research, attention and funding.
-PTC News