Indonesia has recorded its first case of monkeypox in a 27-year-old man who returned from travelling overseas, the country's health ministry said on Saturday.

The World Health Organization designated the outbreak of the virus an emergency last month -- something it reserves for diseases of highest concern.

Indonesian health ministry spokesperson Mohammad Syahril said the patient had a "high awareness and knowledge of the disease".

Symptoms of monkeypox -- which is endemic in parts of Central and Western Africa -- include lesions, fever, muscle ache and chills. It has only been fatal in rare cases.

The patient arrived in Indonesia on August 8 and developed symptoms of fever and rashes a week later.