First case of monkeypox confirmed in Finland

The first case of monkeypox has been identified in Finland. The news has been confirmed by the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS). According to HUS, the patient is recovering. 

HUS reported on Wednesday that an adult male had been found to be infected with the virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus. Both the monkeypox and smallpox viruses are Orthopoxviruses. 

Final confirmation of monkeypox came after the sequencing of the sample.

The man had been infected during travel to another European country. People who have been in close contact with the person who was infected have been traced and instructed on ways to prevent further spread. 

So far, slightly more than 200 cases of monkeypox linked with the present epidemic have been confirmed outside Africa.

Monkeypox is not easily transmitted from one person to another, and it usually goes away on its own.

If you suspect that you have been infected with monkeypox, get in touch with healthcare services by telephone before seeking out treatment

Further information:

Finland's first monkeypox infection very likely (HUS press release 25 May 2022) (in Finnish)
What is monkeypox? (THL) (In Finnish)
Multi-country monkeypox outbreak in non-endemic countries (WHO)   
 
Infectious disease doctor
THL 
tel. +358 29 524 8557 
tartuntatautilaakari(a)thl.fi 
 
Leif Lakoma
Medical Specialist
THL
+358 29 524 7898
leif.lakoma(at)thl.fi