The first case of monkeypox was confirmed in the Republic of Moldova in a person who came from the United States for business. In the U.S., the man had been in contact with a person confirmed with monkeypox, IPN reports.

According to the Ministry of Health, the person asked for medical assistance at the Chisinau Infectious Diseases Hospital “Toma Ciorbă” where he was hospitalized with suspicion he had monkeypox. The patient had general weaknesses, fever and cutaneous eruptions. Samples were taken for examination to the lab of the National Public Health Agency. The RT-PCR test for monkeypox was positive.

Symptoms of monkeypox can include rash, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle aches and backache, headache. To prevent infection with monkeypox, doctors recommend washing the hands with water and soap, avoiding close contact with persons who suspect that they got infected and to immediately seek medical assistance if they suspect they contracted the virus.