Sri Lanka’s first case of monkeypox has been reported after an arrival from Dubai was detected as having been infected with the virus. The patient, a 20-year-old male had arrived in Sri Lanka on 1 November, the Ministry of Health said.

Sources said the youth was referred to the National STD clinic on 2 November due to the presence of blisters and fever. His symptoms included enlarged lymph nodes and exhaustion. An overnight PCR test was carried out by the Medical Research Institute (MRI) which confirmed he had contracted Monkey Pox. This is the first laboratory-confirmed case of monkeypox in Sri Lanka.