The Ministry of Health of Japan has announced the first fatal incident in the country as a result of infection with monkeypox.
According to the department, a 30-year-old man who lived near Tokyo was diagnosed with monkeypox two months ago, in September. It was found that he had previously had a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which led to a weakening of immunity and exacerbation of the disease.
Doctors emphasized that the man did not have the history of travel abroad and probably became infected with monkeypox in the country.
The Ministry notes that the first case of monkey smallpox in Japan was confirmed in July last year, and as of December this year, the number of confirmed cases reached 227.
The disease is accompanied by high fever, headache, enlargement of lymph nodes and rash on the face and other parts of the body. Most people recover on their own within two to four weeks, but in children, pregnant women and people with weakened immunity, there may be exacerbation of symptoms.
According to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases of Japan, from January 2022 to September this year, more than 90,000 cases and 157 deaths from the monkey smallpox have been registered worldwide.
