KATHMANDU: Health officials have confirmed another case of Mpox in Nepal, marking the latest instance of the viral infection in the country. The patient, a 44-year-old male who recently returned from Saudi Arabia, has tested positive for the Mpox virus, according to Dr. Prakash Budhathoki, Spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the Ministry of Health has announced that further details about the infection will be released in the near future. This recent case follows a prior instance on December 20, when a 36-year-old man from Tahanu, also a returnee from Saudi Arabia, was diagnosed with Mpox. The first recorded case of the virus in Nepal was on June 16, 2023, in a foreign national.
Mpox, caused by the Monkeypox virus, is known to be transmissible between humans and from animals to humans. The virus spreads through direct contact with wounds, sores, or bodily fluids such as saliva or mucus, and can also be transmitted via contaminated surfaces and materials. Infected animals, including monkeys, rats, and squirrels, along with contaminated bedding or clothing, remain vectors for the transmission of the virus.