The 26-year-old patient was born in Bac Lieu city and is currently living in Long Binh ward of Bien Hoa City and has been diagnosed with the monkeypox virus, said local health professionals, adding the source of infection currently remains unknown.

The patient went to the Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital on December 14 for a medical checkup and was subsequently diagnosed with syphilis. Doctors then asked him to test for monkeypox after showing initial suspected symptoms.

The following day, his results came back positive for monkeypox. The patient said that he has neither met any foreigner nor travelled abroad in recent times. However, during his hometown visit on December 1 he did meet up with a male friend.

The patient is now in quarantine at home in order to undergo a period of medical surveillance and medical treatment.

This marks the second monkeypox infection recorded in Bien Hoa City and the 57th case recorded in Vietnam.

Source: VOV