The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health announced on October 23 that 18 out of 20 monkeypox cases who are receiving treatment in the southern city’s Hospital for Tropical Diseases have had infectious syndrome caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Of the total, two severe cases have been diagnosed with sepsis and malignant syphilis.

The nation has so far documented a total of 22 monkeypox infections, with two of them having their source of transmission outside of the country. Currently, the source of transmissions of the cases remains unknown.

Health experts shared that the genome sequencing results found in the third monkeypox case is different compared to the gene type of the virus detected in the two cases that previously entered the nation from Dubai in October, 2022.

Monkeypox is currently listed as a Group B infectious disease in the country, meaning it is capable of spreading quickly and possibly causing death, according to information provided by the municipal Department of Health.

The disease is capable of spreading from person to person via large respiratory droplets and direct contact, including sexual intercourse.

Common symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, lymph node swelling, and rashes. The disease can also cause rashes similar to smallpox in the face, anus, and genital areas.

Source: VOV