Monkeypox cases reported in South Korea and Singapore
While no monkeypox cases have yet been found in the Philippines, two Asian countries - South Korea and Singapore - are reporting their first cases of the contagious disease.
As reported by Reuters, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) has released a statement revealing that there are now two suspected monkeypox cases in the country, with diagnostic tests now being conducted.
According to the statement, one of the two suspected cases is a foreign national who showed potential symptoms of the disease last Sunday and is now in a hospital in Busan. The other case is a Korean national from Germany who showed symptoms after arriving in the country and has now been admitted to the Incheon Medical Center.
Meanwhile, Channel News Asia reports that Singapore now has one imported case of monkeypox in a British national working as a flight attendant. The man tested positive for the disease on June 20, but had been experiencing symptoms as far back as June 14. He is currently at Singapore's National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID)
The two monkeypox cases come after Singapore and South Korea began loosening travel restrictions that were imposed during the height of the global coronavirus pandemic. Just last month, South Korea resumed visa-free entry to Jeju Island and Yangyang International Airport. Meanhile, Singapore no longer required quarantine from travelers fully vaccinated for COVID-19 back in February.
Monkeypox is a viral disease whose symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, and blisters. It was first discovered in 1958, with the first human case reported in 1970.
It grabbed headlines recently as it has spread to countries outside of West and Central Africa, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Sweden.
While no cases have been reported in the country, Department of Health secretary Francisco Duque III said that medical officers of the Bureau of Quarantine are already on guard for the infectious disease.
Meanwhile, if you're still looking to travel despite incidents of monkeypox infection, here are the countries that accept the Philippines' VaxCertPH.
