नेपाल सम्वत् ११४५ थिंलागाः ६ ( ६ पुष , २०८१) डिसेम्बर २१, २०२४ , शनिबार, बाँपीझ्याला । Nepal has reported its second case of monkeypox (mpox), confirmed on Friday in a 36-year-old migrant worker from Tanahun who had recently returned from Saudi Arabia. The patient, referred to Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital after presenting with rashes and blisters, admitted to having sexual contact during his stay abroad. This case marks the country’s first reported mpox infection since June 2023, when a 60-year-old foreign national tested positive.
Monkeypox, a viral infection characterized by symptoms like fever, headaches, swelling, rashes, and blisters, is typically mild but can be fatal in about 10% of cases. It spreads mainly through close personal contact. Health experts stress the importance of self-isolation and good hygiene to minimize transmission risks.
Nepal’s Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) has initiated contact tracing to track individuals who may have been exposed to the virus. Efforts focus on fellow passengers from the patient’s flight and those who shared vehicles or visited the same healthcare facilities.
Globally, monkeypox has affected 122 countries, with over 100,000 confirmed cases since May 2022. Previously limited to remote regions of central and west Africa, the virus has now spread widely, including in neighboring India, which has recorded 30 cases since 2022. Public health experts warn against complacency, emphasizing Nepal’s vulnerability due to high population mobility and urging prompt containment measures to prevent further spread.
