Russia confirms five mpox cases at St Petersburg hospital, Chinese outlets report
In short
The Botkin Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital in St Petersburg said on 19 October that five patients hospitalised with suspected mpox have all been confirmed as infected. The hospital said their condition is stable, with mild to moderate symptoms, and that treatment continues.
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The Botkin Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital in St Petersburg said on 19 October that five patients who had been hospitalised with suspected mpox have all been confirmed as infected, CLS and Jiemian reported. The hospital said the five are in stable condition, with symptoms ranging from mild to moderate, and are continuing treatment. [ 1 , 2 ]
On 15 October the Moscow region branch of Russia's federal consumer rights protection and public welfare supervision service said on its website that it had begun an epidemiological investigation into a suspected mpox outbreak in the region and had taken related anti-epidemic measures. According to Jiemian, the notice said these included identifying contact groups and carrying out disinfection, and that five people had been admitted for medical observation. [ 1 , 2 ]
Jiemian, citing CCTV News, described mpox as a viral zoonotic disease. It said early symptoms in people include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain and swollen lymph nodes, and can develop into a widespread rash on the face and body. Most patients recover within weeks, but some become seriously ill or die, it said. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The documents give no basis beyond the case count and the investigation announced for Moscow region. Chinese business outlets relayed the Russian announcements without further analysis.
Key facts
- The Botkin Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital in St Petersburg said on 19 October that five patients hospitalised with suspected mpox were all confirmed infected. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The hospital said the five patients are in stable condition with mild to moderate symptoms and are continuing treatment. [ 1 , 2 ]
- On 15 October the Moscow region branch of Russia's federal consumer rights protection and public welfare supervision service said on its website that it had begun an epidemiological investigation into a suspected mpox outbreak in the region. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The notice said measures included identifying contacts and disinfection, and that five people had been admitted for medical observation. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Nothing is confirmed by two independent outlets yet.
Still unclear
- Whether the five patients confirmed in St Petersburg are the same five people the Moscow region notice said were admitted for observation. Document 2 reports both figures of five but does not link the hospital in St Petersburg to the Moscow region notice.
- How the five patients became infected and how many contacts have been identified. The documents do not give this information.
- The Botkin hospital in St Petersburg said five patients hospitalised with suspected mpox were all confirmed infected, with stable condition and mild to moderate symptoms. Reported by a single source so far
- The Moscow region branch of the federal consumer rights and public welfare supervision service announced on 15 October an epidemiological investigation into suspected mpox cases in the region. Reported by a single source so far