"Monkeypox Suspect in Healthy Condition... Existing Antiviral Drugs to Be Used"

Cho Seung-yeon, Director of Incheon Medical Center: "Domestic Suspect A Isolated and Treated in Negative Pressure Room"
KCDC to Announce Test Results and Response at 3 PM Briefing

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Among the two domestic suspected monkeypox cases, a Korean male patient A is confirmed to be in good health and undergoing treatment.

According to Yonhap News Agency, on the 22nd, Cho Seung-yeon, director of Incheon Medical Center, told reporters, "Patient A is in good health without fever, except for skin lesions such as rashes," and "He is isolated and treated in a negative pressure room with blocked air circulation."

Patient A, who arrived from Germany the previous day, began experiencing headaches on the 18th and showed mild fever, sore throat, and skin lesion symptoms upon arrival. After arrival, he himself reported suspected monkeypox to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), and was classified as a suspected case by airport quarantine and central epidemiological investigators, then transferred to Incheon Medical Center, a nationally designated inpatient treatment facility.

Director Cho explained, "There is currently no specific treatment for monkeypox," and added, "Patient A will be treated using other antiviral drugs previously used." He further stated, "Just as various drugs were tested during the early stages of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) outbreak and effective ones were used, monkeypox treatment will proceed similarly."

Director Cho also said, "Since monkeypox spreads mainly through direct contact rather than airborne transmission, citizens need not worry," and urged, "If hygiene management is thorough, there should be no major problems."

The KDCA is currently conducting tests on the suspected monkeypox patients, Korean patient A and foreign patient B. According to the KDCA, monkeypox diagnostic tests usually take about six hours, but for the initial suspected patients A and B, genetic sequencing analysis is being conducted, with results expected this afternoon. After the final results are obtained, the KDCA will hold a briefing at 3 p.m. to announce the results and response measures.