03 Mar 2023 | 12:43 PM UTC
Asia and Western Pacific: Confirmed monkeypox (mpox) cases reported in several countries in the region through February /update 7
Monkeypox (mpox) cases confirmed in multiple countries in Asia and the Western Pacific through February. Maintain basic health precautions.
Event
Health officials have confirmed 302 cases of monkeypox (mpox) in multiple countries in Asia and the Western Pacific as of March 3. Australia is the most affected, with 144 confirmed cases of the disease. Cases have also been reported in New Zealand (41 cases), Japan (27 cases), India (22 cases), and Singapore (21 cases). Additional cases have been reported in China, Guam, Indonesia, Japan, New Caledonia, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. As disease surveillance and contact tracing continue, officials will likely identify additional cases in the coming weeks. This report represents the most up-to-date information as of March 3.
Context
The first confirmed cases of mpox in the Western Pacific were reported May 15, 2022 in Australia and July 11, 2022 in India, Southeast Asia. These cases are associated with the widespread outbreak of mpox reported by individuals who attended one or more mass gatherings in May located in Antwerp, Belgium, as well as Madrid and Gran Canaria in Spain, or reported recent close contact with an attendee. Mass gatherings always present an elevated risk of infectious disease transmission. Human-to-human transmission occurs among people in close physical contact, with the increase in recent cases linked to sexual contact suggesting that the virus linked to the disease can be sexually transmitted. The current outbreak highlights the importance of vigilant safe sexual practices and suggests mpox can be transmitted while the infected person displays few or no symptoms; however, the risk is currently assessed as low for individuals not routinely engaging with multiple or anonymous sexual partners.
Mpox does not naturally occur in the Western Pacific; most cases are reported in West and Central Africa, primarily in the DRC, Nigeria, and Cameroon among individuals who report contact with wild rodents or other mammals which may harbor the disease.
Mpox is caused by a virus that belongs to the same family as the virus that causes smallpox. However, mpox is not the same as smallpox, and it does not have the same capacity for rapid human-to-human transmission. Mpox is mainly transmitted to humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected rodents or primates. Human-to-human transmission primarily occurs through close personal contact with an infected individual via respiratory droplets, direct contact with bodily fluids, or indirect contact with lesion material (e.g., contaminated clothing or bedding). Symptoms typically appear 6-16 days after exposure but can develop up to 21 days after exposure. Symptoms generally include fever, headache, muscle aches and backaches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a distinctive rash characterized by lesions that progress through several stages before falling off.
Advice
Practice basic health precautions, including frequent handwashing with soap and water, covering the nose and mouth when coughing, and avoiding obviously ill individuals. Avoid overcrowded areas and consider using safe sexual practices, such as physical barriers (condoms), in countries reporting mpox transmission. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop within two weeks of being in affected areas. Vaccines are available but limited.
