3 Additional Domestic Patients Confirmed with Mpox...Total 16 Patients

Domestic Infection Suspected Without Overseas Travel History

The total number of confirmed Mpox (monkeypox) cases in South Korea has increased to 16, with 3 additional confirmed patients.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 18th, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced that 3 more Mpox cases had been confirmed.

The 14th patient is a Korean national residing in Seoul who reported suspected symptoms such as skin lesions to the KDCA call center (1339). Classified as a suspected case due to risk exposure during the incubation period, the patient was confirmed positive after testing.

The 15th patient is a foreign national living in Gyeongbuk Province who visited a medical institution with skin lesions. The attending medical staff suspected Mpox infection and reported it to the local public health center. Genetic testing confirmed the positive diagnosis.

The 16th patient is a Korean national residing in Gyeonggi Province who reported suspected symptoms such as skin lesions to 1339 and was confirmed positive through genetic testing.

The new patients are currently hospitalized in isolation wards and are generally in good condition. The health authorities stated that since none of the three patients had traveled abroad within three weeks of symptom onset, a detailed epidemiological investigation is underway regarding their infection routes and contacts, focusing on domestic risk exposures.

Ji Young-mi, director of the KDCA, said, "Although the number of Mpox cases has recently increased, this is due to prompt diagnosis encouraged by medical staff and public reporting." She urged the public to cooperate by adhering to infection prevention guidelines and promptly reporting any suspected symptoms rather than succumbing to excessive anxiety.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.