All three cases originated abroad.
According to SPKC spokeswoman Ilze Arāja, there is no internal transmission of this disease in Latvia.
All cases identified so far are closely monitored.
“The first two cases have already passed. In the latter case, the monitoring is still ongoing. Overall, since the start of the outbreak, a total of 19,000 people have been reported worldwide by July 27, including five deaths reported. It should be said that the distribution of countries is very varied, because there are very high rates in one country but elsewhere they are relatively low, Arāja said.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) with symptoms similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although it is clinically less severe.
Monkeypox is usually a self-limited disease with the symptoms lasting from 2 to 4 weeks. Severe cases can occur. In recent times, the case fatality ratio has been around 3–6%. It is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal, or with material contaminated with the virus. This can include close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding.
Monkeypox typically presents clinically with fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes and may lead to a range of medical complications.
