Netherlands Detects 1st Monkeypox Case in Child

The National Institute of Health in the Netherlands announced that the country recorded the first case of monkeypox in a child, bringing the number of infected people to 352.

"Monkeypox was diagnosed in 352 people in the Netherlands," the institute said in a statement.

The institute mentioned that among the monkeypox cases was a child in primary school. The institute does not know exactly how he contracted the virus, noting that he is not suspected of being sexually assaulted.

Recently, more than 5100 cases of this disease were detected in 51 countries around the world, while the ways of spreading the infection are not completely clear.

Most people recover from the disease after a few weeks, but pregnant women, children, and those with compromised immune systems are at higher risk.

Fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash with blisters are all symptoms of the disease. On Monday, the UKHSA reaffirmed that anyone who has had such a rash in the last three weeks and has either returned from the west or central Africa or been in close contact with a confirmed or suspected monkeypox case should seek medical help.

Experts have highlighted that, while they are concerned, the risk to the general public remains low.