8 Sep 2022 13:45

Monkeypox patient hospitalized in St. Petersburg, infection contained - Rospotrebnadzor

MOSCOW. Sept 8 (Interfax) - The second monkeypox case has been recorded in Russia; the patient is hospitalized and the infection is contained, the St. Petersburg branch of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) said.

"The Rospotrebnadzor department in St. Petersburg hereby reports the registration of another monkeypox case. [...] The patient with characteristic symptoms has been admitted to an infectious diseases hospital. His condition is not life-threatening," the service told reporters.

The patient's contacts have been identified and placed under medical surveillance, it said.

"An epidemiological inquiry was launched as soon as the suspected infection was reported. A number of anti-epidemic measures have been organized promptly and are being taken. The possible spread of infection was contained," the service said.

A man was diagnosed with monkeypox after traveling to Europe, it said.

A system designed to lower the risk of monkeypox importation and spread is functioning in Russia, which includes enhanced sanitary and quarantine control on the border, the service said. Labs are capable of prompt diagnostics of any case of infection. Russian regions have sufficient amounts of reagents for diagnosing monkeypox and other orthopoxviruses. The test kits are designed by Rospotrebnadzor's Vector Center.

"The screening focuses on persons arriving from countries, which have reported infections, and patients exhibiting symptoms of exanthemic diseases," the service said.

More than 55,000 monkeypox cases have been recorded globally to date.

Monkeypox is a rare infectious disease most common in the remote areas of Central and Western Africa. The symptoms include nausea, fever, rash, itching and muscle ache.

Rospotrebnadzor said on July 12 that the first case of monkeypox had been recorded in Russia. The patient, who traveled to Portugal, had a mild case of monkeypox and was discharged from hospital.