As of July 26, there were no cases of Monkeypox community transmissions in Cambodia, notwithstanding an imported case involving a 27-year-old Nigerian man who had fled from Thailand after testing positive for the contagious disease, according to a top health official.
Globally, 75 countries in all six regions of the World Health Organisation (WHO) have reported 16,016 cases with five deaths, said Ministry of Health spokeswoman Or Vandine, citing a July 22 report from the UN agency.
“I am happy to report that bar the fugitive from Thailand, we have not detected a single case of Monkeypox in the Kingdom,” she said, noting that Monkeypox infections had been reported in 37 new countries in the past week.
Regarding the condition of the Nigerian Monkeypox patient admitted to the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital in Phnom Penh, Vandine confirmed that his health was stable and that his sores appeared to be healing well.
“We have tested him twice and he tested positive, so he will remain isolated and continue to receive treatment,” she said.
After thorough tracing by the ministry’s Emergency Response Team in collaboration with the WHO in Cambodia, five people were found to have been in contact with the patient.
“Three cleaners at his guesthouse and two people who shared a rickshaw him have been recorded as direct contacts. So far, all appear healthy. But in accordance with medical best practice, they are required to be monitored in isolation for between five and 21 days,” said Vandine.
Doctors will take samples from them for testing on the fifth day.
