Cambodia intends to expel a Nigerian man who tested positive for monkeypox while in neighboring Thailand and then entered Cambodia last month. According to sources, which cited Cambodian officials, the 27-year-old male patient, whose name isn’t revealed, is receiving treatment in a hospital and will be deported after recovering and will not be allowed to enter Cambodia for three years.
It would be the first time someone will be deported to Nigeria due to having monkeypox if the plan moves forward. According to Thai officials, the man’s condition did not warrant hospitalization before he left the country.
The Situation
Investigations into cases of monkeypox, a rare and little-known illness, are ongoing in the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, and other European nations.
Over the past few weeks, there have been over 2,800 confirmed cases in the UK. Although the majority of cases are minor and the risk to the general public is low, the UK government has purchased smallpox vaccine to protect against monkeypox.
In Nigeria, the Monkeypox virus has been recorded across 26 states in Nigeria since January 2022. The summary shows that there were 56 suspected cases reported across 19 states from 25th July to 31st July 2022 with Ondo state getting the highest number of cases.
According to NCDC, there have been four deaths in the country- Delta (1), Lagos (1), Ondo (1) and Akwa Ibom (1).