(Bloomberg) — Singapore said a mutated strain of monkeypox has spread locally for the first time, marking a new outbreak of the potentially deadly virus in Asia as it continues to spread through Africa.
The two men, aged 30 and 34, are in stable condition after they were “probably infected through sexual activities”, according to a statement from Singapore’s Communicable Diseases Agency on Thursday. The mpox clade Ib pathogen, which spreads primarily through intimate or long-term close contact, was declared a global health emergency in 2024 following a rapidly spreading epidemic in Africa.
A strain of the virus has also been detected in Europe and North America. China confirmed its first domestic variant cluster in January last year. Travelers from affected areas are at risk of spreading the disease, which causes rashes, chills and blisters. Other symptoms include fever and swollen lymph nodes.
Two men in Singapore had “long-term physical contact” with each other and both said they had recent sexual contact, the local agency said, and one of them had recently traveled. They developed symptoms at the end of March and tested positive for the virus strain within a week. They are currently in home isolation until April 20 and 21, pending further clinical checks, the statement said. The agency said both cases are under investigation and contact tracing is underway.
While the risk of transmission is generally low, Singapore says the public should avoid “high-risk sexual activities” to protect themselves from the virus. She also said travelers to mpox-affected countries should limit physical contact with sick individuals and “avoid eating bushmeat” because the virus can also spread from infected animals to humans.
–With the help of Karoline Kan.
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