KUCHING: Members of the public have been advised to respect animals but at the same time to avoid getting zoonosis (a disease which can be transmitted to humans from animals).
Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian issued this warning today when he was asked to comment on the first monkeypox case reported in Singapore recently.
Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus that can occur in certain animals including humans.
Added the minister, “The first monkeypox case has been reported in Singapore. When zoonosis infects humans, we do not have the medical cure right away as it takes time and costs money to produce a cure.
“For instance, it took us about 30 to 40 years to find the medicine to treat the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).”
Interviewed after distributing “Bubur Lambuk” to the public at the Ramadan Bazaar next to the Stutong Community Market here, Dr Sim said, “The Health Department always has medical facilities at the airports and whenever there is an outbreak of rare diseases, there will be medical officers on the alert.
“The proper procedure is to quarantine those who are infected.
“I believe the Singapore government will be very strict with those who have the monkeypox symptoms and will prevent them from leaving the country to spread the disease to the world.”
Straits Times Singapore reported that a Nigerian national tested positive for monkeypox on Wednesday (May 8). It was the first case of the rare viral disease reported in the country.
The man who brought in the virus arrived in Singapore on April 28, according to the city-state’s health ministry (MOH) in a statement.
The 38-year-old developed symptoms two days later, was later isolated at an infectious disease centre in a stable condition.
Twenty-three other individuals, who had been in close contact with the man, were also quarantined and will be monitored for 21 days.
Although the risk of spread was low, MOH was taking precautions.
Meanwhile, according to the US Centres For Disease Control and Prevention said outside Africa, human monkeypox infections had only been previously reported in the United States, Britain and Israel,
Symptoms start with fever, headache, muscle pains, swollen lymph nodes and feeling tired. After that comes a rash that forms blisters and crusts over.
