An infected young man returned from a European trip, the consumer health watchdog has said
The first case of monkeypox has been detected in Russia, consumer health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor announced on Tuesday, adding that further spread of the disease was prevented due to a “timely epidemiological investigation.”
According to the Russian Health Ministry, the case was detected in St. Petersburg.
“The disease was detected in a young man who returned from a trip to Europe and applied to a medical facility with a characteristic rash,” Rospotrebnadzor said in a statement, adding that there is no threat to the patient’s life, as “the disease proceeds in a mild form.”
The authorities took measures to prevent further spread, Rospotrebnadzor stressed. The patient’s contacts have been traced and are now “under medical supervision.” The young man lives alone and had limited contact with others in Russia upon returning from Europe, according to the statement.
The watchdog said that Russia has all the necessary means to detect the infection, and that the authorities are closely monitoring the situation.
“Particular attention is paid to those who arrived from countries where cases of infection have already been registered, as well as to patients with symptoms of exanthemic diseases.”