Kathmandu, December 20
Nepal has reported its first confirmed case of monkeypox in a Nepali citizen. The individual, who recently returned from Saudi Arabia, tested positive for the virus, according to the Ministry of Health.
The patient is currently receiving treatment at Teku Hospital. Previously, on June 15, a foreign woman in Nepal was diagnosed with monkeypox. This marks the first confirmed case of the virus in a Nepali citizen.
Hospital sources report that the patient’s condition is stable, and health authorities are tracing individuals who came into contact with them, a ministry official informed OnlineKhabar.
Monkeypox is a contagious disease caused by the monkeypox virus, part of the Orthopoxvirus genus within the Poxviridae family. It is a double-stranded DNA virus. The symptoms of monkeypox are similar to, but generally less severe than, those of smallpox.
Following the global eradication of smallpox, monkeypox has been consistently observed in regions of Central, East, and West Africa. The virus caused a global outbreak between 2022 and 2023. However, its natural reservoir remains unknown. The virus is believed to spread from small mammals, including rodents and monkeys, to humans.
Infectious disease experts explain that monkeypox virus spreads among humans through respiratory droplets, direct contact with open skin lesions, or mucous membranes in the eyes or mouth. Close contact with an infected person significantly increases the risk of transmission.
