The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health announced on Monday that 18 out of 20 monkeypox cases who are receiving treatment in the southern metropolis’ Hospital for Tropical Diseases were also diagnosed with an infectious syndrome caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

The 18 patients have been diagnosed with B20, a term widely used for those with any known prior diagnosis of an HIV-related illness as per the World Health Organization’s International Statistical Classification of HIV Disease.

Of the total, there are two severe cases with sepsis, cellulitis, perineal infection, malignant syphilis, draining lung abscess, and skin infection.

Vietnam has documented a total of 22 monkeypox infections, with two transmitted outside of the country. 

The source of transmission of the other cases remains unknown.

Health experts shared that the genome sequencing result found in the third monkeypox case is different compared to the gene type of the virus detected in the two cases that previously entered the nation from Dubai in October 2022.

Monkeypox is currently listed as a Group B infectious disease in the country, meaning it is capable of spreading quickly and causing death, according to information provided by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health.

The disease is capable of spreading from person to person via large respiratory droplets and direct contact, including sexual intercourse.

Common symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, lymph node swelling, and rashes. 

The disease can also cause rashes similar to smallpox in the face, anus, and genital areas.

Other diseases

From October 16 to October 22, Ho Chi Minh City reported 371 dengue fever cases, marking an increase of 10 cases from the previous week. 

Of these, 103 cases, or 27.76 percent, hail from other provinces. 

The daily average for severe cases rose to 13 from the previous week’s 12.

In the city, 172 dengue fever cases are currently in treatment at various hospitals, with 56 of them, or 32.56 percent, being residents from other provinces, including five severe infections.

There were a total of 553 cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) hospitalizations during the week, a drop of 26 cases compared to the previous week, which logged 579 cases.

Among the severe cases last week, one patient underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment, while two received dialysis. 

Currently, all patients’ health conditions remain stable, with no reported deaths.

Furthermore, during the same week, 2,407 individuals sought medical attention for conjunctivitis (pinkeye), reflecting a 33.4-percent fall from the previous week, including 386 cases located within the city.

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