05 Sep 2024 | 07:45 AM UTC
Malta: Confirmed monkeypox (mpox) cases reported in early September
Confirmed monkeypox (mpox) cases reported in Malta in early September. Maintain basic health precautions.
Health officials have reported confirmed monkeypox (mpox) cases in Malta, with two confirmed cases reported late August-Sept. 3. Malta reported 35 mpox cases from 2022-2023, with only two cases identified in 2023. The first case has been identified as Clade II, with further testing occurring to identify the clade of the second case. Local health officials are monitoring the situation closely, and contact-tracing efforts are underway to prevent further transmission. 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 Sept. 5.
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 such as nightclubs and consider using safe sexual practices such as physical barriers (condoms) in countries reporting monkeypox transmission. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop within two weeks of being in affected areas, especially if you have had one or more new sexual partners. Vaccines are available and recommended for at risk individuals.
On Aug. 14, the WHO declared the mpox outbreak in Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The African region has seen an unprecedented increase in mpox cases since early 2024, with previously unaffected countries like Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda reporting cases. The WHO's declaration aims to prompt a coordinated international response, improve surveillance, accelerate vaccine distribution, enhance public health measures, and mobilize resources to control the outbreak.
Mpox is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus. Mpox is mainly transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected individuals (including intimate or sexual contact), infected animals, or through contact with contaminated materials. 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 3-17 days after exposure but can develop up to 21 days after exposure. Symptoms generally include fever, headache, muscle and back aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a distinctive rash characterized by lesions that progress through several stages before falling off.
