Sri Lanka confirms 2 new monkeypox cases

Two women who returned from overseas have been diagnosed with monkeypox, the health officials confirmed on Wednesday.

According to the Director-General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena, the monkeypox-infected mother-daughter duo is currently under medical care at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH).

They tested positive for the virus in a test conducted at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake upon their arrival from Dubai.

Meanwhile, the husband of the monkeypox-infected mother has reportedly recovered after being infected with monkeypox while he was abroad.

Sri Lanka confirmed its first two monkeypox cases in November 2022, three months after the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the infection a global emergency.

Monkeypox, a viral zoonotic infection, is usually observed in central and western Africa. The infection saw a rapid spread in many parts of the world earlier this year.