RIYADH, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia on Thursday detected its first monkeypox case, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The imported case was reported in the capital of Riyadh and the infected individual has been under medical care according to procedures, said the Saudi Health Ministry.
The ministry noted those who came in contact with the person showed no symptoms.
The ministry highlighted its readiness to deal with the development of the disease and called upon the public to follow health instructions, especially while traveling.
Monkeypox is a sylvatic zoonosis that may cause infections in humans. The disease was known to be endemic in parts of Africa, but now some 50 countries and territories have reported cases to the World Health Organization (WHO) since January.
It is caused by the monkeypox virus which belongs to the orthopoxvirus family, according to the WHO. The symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion. ■
