South Korea reports first 2 suspected cases of monkeypox

ANKARA (AA) - South Korea reported its first two suspected cases of monkeypox on Wednesday, according to local media.

One of the cases was a foreigner who arrived in the country on Monday, while the other was a South Korean national who arrived the next day, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

Both individuals have been isolated at their respective hospitals and diagnostic tests are being conducted, said KDCA officials.

The patients will be treated in isolation at the hospitals, where they will remain for a mandatory 21 days, according to the report.

Monkeypox is a virus transmitted to humans from animals, with symptoms including fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.

Worldwide, the WHO knows of more than 1,600 confirmed cases of monkeypox in 39 countries -- including seven countries where monkeypox has been detected for years, and 32 newly-affected countries.

The WHO said Europe remains the epicenter of the monkeypox outbreak, with 25 countries reporting more than 1,500 or 85% of the cases.

* Writing by Islamuddin Sajid