Rare viral cases reported in China following arrival of international visitor

Chinese health authorities have reported multiple cases of infection with the Ib variant of the monkeypox virus, according to the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

Officials have confirmed that the spread of the disease has been successfully contained, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

The outbreak originated from a foreign national who arrived in China from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Following the detection of the disease, authorities in Beijing, Tianjin, and the provinces of Zhejiang and Guangdong activated a joint prevention and control mechanism.

Four individuals who had close contact with the infected person contracted monkeypox, displaying mild symptoms such as rashes and herpes. All are under medical supervision and receiving appropriate treatment.

The Ib variant was first identified in the DRC in April 2024. The virus primarily affects the eastern regions of the DRC and neighbouring countries, including Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.

Monkeypox is a rare viral disease characterized by fever, lymph node swelling, intoxication, and a rash that evolves into blisters and ulcers. Transmission occurs from wild animals like rodents and primates, although human-to-human transmission is also possible.

While mild cases resolve within 2–3 weeks, the disease can lead to severe complications such as secondary infections, bronchopneumonia, septicaemia, encephalitis, and corneal infections that may result in vision loss.

Humans are not the primary hosts for monkeypox, with 72.5% of cases attributed to animal-to-human transmission. Most outbreaks outside Africa have been linked to travellers exposed to infected animals in Nigeria and the DRC, or to secondary carriers.

One notable example occurred in 2003 when over 70 people in the US contracted monkeypox after contact with prairie dogs infected by marsupial rats imported from Africa. Similar isolated cases have been reported in Israel, the UK, and Singapore.

On August 14, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), declared the monkeypox outbreak in Africa a public health emergency of international concern, emphasizing the global need for vigilance and containment measures.

By Tamilla Hasanova