The First Case of Monkeypox in the Republic of Korea
10.3346/jkms.2022.37.e224
- Author:
Young Rock JANG
1
;
Minji LEE
;
Hwachul SHIN
;
Jin-Won KIM
;
Myung-min CHOI
;
Young Mi KIM
;
Min Ji LEE
;
Jinsil KIM
;
Hye Kyoung NA
;
Jin Yong KIM
Author Information
1. Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Incheon Medical Center, Incheon, Korea
- Publication Type:Brief Communication
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2022;37(27):e224-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
A rapid outbreak of monkeypox is ongoing in non-endemic countries since May 2022. We report the first case of monkeypox in the Republic of Korea. This occurred in a 34-year-old male patient who traveled to Europe in June 2022. On the day of his return to the Republic of Korea (June 21, 2022), the patient presented with a genital lesion. The results of the monkeypox real-time polymerase chain reaction tests were positive in the penile ulcer, oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal specimens. The patient subsequently developed fever and skin rash after hospital admission. Careful history taking along physical examination should be conducted in the patients who have epidemiologic risk factors for monkeypox. Moreover, appropriate specimens should be obtained from lesions and tested for the monkeypox virus.
