Monkeypox patient in Ho Chi Minh City is being isolated and treated

On the afternoon of September 26, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health announced that a 25-year-old male patient from Dong Nai came to the Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital and was diagnosed with Mpox (monkey pox). The patient was then transferred to the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases for treatment.

Pustule on the hand of a monkeypox patient.

Accordingly, on September 22, the male patient went to the Dermatology Hospital for examination with suspected signs of monkeypox. Therefore, the hospital took a sample and sent it to the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City. On September 23, the patient's test result was positive for monkeypox virus.

A patient with monkeypox was isolated and monitored at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases in October 2022.

The disease started about a week before with symptoms of swollen lymph nodes on both sides of the groin, fever, painful swelling in the genitals and 2-3 small blisters. Then, more pustules appeared on the hands, feet, chest, ulcers appeared all over the body (hands, feet, oral mucosa, chest, genitals), itching, discomfort, no fever.

Currently, the patient's health is stable, no fever, scattered blisters, no new lesions. Notably, in the 3 weeks before the onset of symptoms, the patient was only in Vietnam.

According to the Department of Health, after being diagnosed with the disease, the patient said that he was temporarily residing in Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) investigated the epidemiology and travel history, and made a list of 8 people who had close contact with the patient (4 people in Ho Chi Minh City, 1 in Binh Duong, 3 in Dong Nai).

Among these 8 people, one is the patient's girlfriend, 22 years old, residing in Binh Duong province, not traveling abroad, also tested positive for monkeypox (September 24) and is currently being isolated and treated at Tan Uyen District Medical Center, Binh Duong, with stable health condition. The remaining close contacts are currently stable, with no unusual symptoms.

The Department of Health has directed the Hospital for Tropical Diseases to properly isolate, treat and care for patients in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Health. At the same time, it has directed HCDC to continue to coordinate with the Centers for Disease Control of Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces to conduct epidemiological investigations, especially the travel history and contact of patients to promptly prevent the risk of spreading in the community.

In addition, monitor and instruct people who have been in close contact with the patient to self-monitor their health at home for 21 days. Instruct on cleaning and disinfecting the entire boarding house and personal belongings of the patient.

Thus, up to now, Vietnam has recorded 4 cases of monkeypox, 2 previous cases were infected from abroad. In particular, these 2 cases have permanent addresses in Dong Nai and Binh Duong, epidemiological investigation has not found any connection to abroad, most likely these are "domestic" cases.

Mpox (monkey pox) is spread through virus-containing secretions from the rash of vesicles and pustules. It is spread from person to person through close contact, including face-to-face, skin-to-skin, mouth-to-mouth, or mouth-to-skin contact, including sexual contact. In most cases, symptoms of monkeypox clear up on their own within a few weeks. However, in some people, infection can lead to complications or even death. Infants, young children, and people with weakened immune systems may be at risk for more severe symptoms and death from monkeypox.

To prevent monkeypox infection, limit close contact with people suspected of being infected or having the disease, or with animals that may be infected, practice safe sex, and regularly clean and disinfect environments that may be contaminated with the virus from infected people.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/suc-khoe/benh-nhan-mac-dau-mua-khi-tai-tp-hcm-dang-duoc-cach-ly-dieu-tri-20230926171231644.htm