Hong Kong authorities confirm fourth case of monkeypox 1 day after recording third as experts warn more could follow
- Fourth case in city since last September involves 25-year-old man whose symptoms were initially misdiagnosed as chickenpox
- Expert says surge in cases was possible now that Hong Kong has lifted travel restrictions
But experts emphasised the risk to the public remained low and suggested more public education was needed to avoid an increase in high-risk exposures.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said on Friday it was investigating an imported monkeypox case of a 25-year-old man whose symptoms had initially been misdiagnosed as chickenpox on April 15.
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The CHP said the new case, the city’s fourth since last September, had recently visited monkeypox-affected areas, including Korea and Taiwan.
The latest case was a close contact of a 34-year-old man who was confirmed to have the virus on Thursday, which is now being considered an “import-related” case.
Two other household contacts have also been quarantined and will receive post-exposure vaccines, according to the centre.
The CHP urged the public to “heighten vigilance and avoid close contact with persons suspected of contracting mpox”.
