Indonesia issues travel advisory as monkeypox case confirmed in Singapore

JAKARTA, May 13 (Bernama) -- Indonesia has advised its nationals in Singapore to calm down and watch closely the development of the situation through media and the country's Health Ministry website after confirmation of a monkeypox case in Singapore, reported Xinhua news agency.

On May 9, the Ministry of Health of Singapore reported the first monkeypox case in the country. A Nigerian who was believed to have consumed the meat of a wild animal was infected with the monkeypox virus, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry said a statement on Monday.

"For the citizens who have been or will go to the middle and western African countries, we urge them to avoid direct contact with the skin or dead bodies of infected animals, and refrain from consuming meats of wild animals such as monkey, lizard, crocodile, snake and others," the ministry said.

The 38-year-old Nigerian, who arrived in Singapore on April 28, was positively confirmed of having infected by the monkeypox virus on May 8.

Monkeypox disease is caused by viruses which are primarily transmitted to humans from animals. The disease will typically cause fever, muscle aches, backache, skin rash, and swollen lymph nodes. In some cases, the virus can trigger serious complications such as pneumonia, sepsis, brain inflammation and loss of vision. 

--BERNAMA