08 Jul 2022 | 08:25 PM UTC
Western Pacific: Monkeypox cases reported in several countries in the region as of early July
Officials report monkeypox cases in Australia, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan as of early July. Maintain basic health precautions.
Event
Health officials have identified at least 22 cases of monkeypox in multiple Western Pacific countries as of early July. Australia has reported 17 confirmed cases of the disease, including at least five cases in Sydney and two in Melbourne. Singapore health officials have identified three confirmed cases of monkeypox. Both South Korea and Taiwan have reported one confirmed case each. These figures represent the most recent data available as of July 8.
Context
Many of the cases in this widespread outbreak have reported attending one or more recent mass gatherings in Antwerp, Belgium, as well as Madrid or 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 monkeypox 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.
Monkeypox 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.
Monkeypox is caused by a virus that belongs to the same family as the virus that causes smallpox. However, monkeypox is not the same as smallpox, and it does not have the same capacity for rapid human-to-human transmission. Monkeypox 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 monkeypox transmission. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop within two weeks of being in affected areas.
