Malaysia records first two cases of monkeypox

PUTRAJAYA - The Health Ministry (MOH) detects the country's first two cases of monkeypox.

Health Director-General Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan stated that the first case involved a foreign individual who resided and worked in the country since April 2022.

"The man had a history of travel to a country that reported monkeypox cases on July 6th before returning to Malaysia four days later," he said in a statement.

He said that the patient experienced symptoms on July 19, with lesions started to appear on July 23 before being released from isolation on August 10.

"He is suspected to have been infected while travelling in the country abroad that reported monkeypox cases," he added.

Dr Radzi further explained that the second case involved a local man who had close contact with the first case.

"The patient experienced symptoms while in quarantine as a close contact and tested positive on July 29," he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Radzi asked medical practitioners to be sensitive to individuals with blister symptoms who sought treatment, especially among high-risk groups.

"The history of the risk of close contact with individuals with symptoms of monkeypox infection must be obtained.

"For suspected cases, blister swabs, oral swabs and blood or serum samples can be sent to a laboratory that provides monkeypox virus detection test services," he said.