Turkish traveler spotted with monkeypox signs at Dhaka airport

A Turkish citizen was discovered with monkeypox symptoms during passenger screening at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Tuesday.

Dr Shahriar Sajjat, health in-charge of the airport, confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune on Tuesday. 

Airport officials immediately sent the 32-year-old man to the Infectious Diseases Hospital in the capital’s Mohakhali.

According to Dr Shahriar, the man landed at the airport on a Turkish Airlines flight at 12:30pm, carrying a total of 216 passengers, including two infants.

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“We have identified him as a suspected infectious with monkeypox, following thermal imaging. After primary treatment, we sent him to the Infectious Diseases Hospital,” he added.

Turkish Airlines claims the passenger's signs were initially identified as "ringworm” Dhaka Tribune

Meanwhile, an official of the Turkish Airlines told this correspondent that the signs on the passenger's body was initially identified by Turkish authorities as "ringworm”, which is known as a common fungal skin infection.

"Symptoms of ringworm have been found on the passenger's knees, wrists, fingers and scalp," the official observed.

However, Turkish airline authorities have urged everyone to refrain from spreading unnecessary panic as the monkeypox's symptoms do not match the passenger's symptoms.