Five people have been hospitalized in Zhukovsky, near Russia's capital Moscow, after coming into contact with a person suspected of having mpox, formerly known as monkeypox.

The patients have no clinical symptoms and are undergoing medical observation and testing, according to Lenta.ru.

The group includes three men and two women aged between 21 and 35. They were reportedly taken to a hospital in the Moscow region, with a possible exposure to the infection occurring on October 10.

Initial reports suggested that the individuals may have contracted the virus within Russia. However, no confirmed diagnosis has been reported for five patients.

The Moscow Region Health Ministry said the hospitalizations were precautionary and part of measures to prevent the spread of infection.

“Anti-epidemic measures are being carried out in the Moscow Region, as part of which five people who had contact with a person suspected of being infected with monkeypox have been hospitalized as a precaution,” the ministry said.

The patients have been placed under medical observation and tested. The ministry described their condition as satisfactory and said none had developed clinical symptoms of the disease. The situation remains under its supervision.

Earlier, a 27-year-old man recovered from mpox in Domodedovo, another town in the Moscow region.

The man had not traveled abroad, prompting speculation that he may have contracted the infection within Russia. However, the exact location and circumstances of the suspected transmission were not disclosed.

Doctors have not reported any connection between that case and the five people hospitalized in Zhukovsky.