Management of Contacts of the First Imported Monkeypox Case in Korea.

ABSTRACT

On 22 June, a man who returned to South Korea from Germany tested positive for the monkeypox virus using real-time polymerase chain reaction. We identified 49 contacts concerning the first monkeypox case and classified them into two groups based on risk exposure levels. Through active monitoring of eight people in the medium-risk group and passive monitoring of 41 people in the low-risk group, we identified that no secondary transmission occurred over 21 days. The prompt active or passive monitoring of the index case of imported monkeypox could prevent community transmission in Korea.