"Can Spread to Entire Population, Under Watch"... Rapidly Spreading 'Wonsungidujang'

US CDC: "16 of 17 cases involve same-sex sexual contact, 14 linked to travel... Infection possible even without these factors"
WHO: "Lower transmissibility than COVID-19, unlikely to become a pandemic"
Korean health authorities to designate monkeypox as a 'Class 2 infectious disease'

A notice related to monkeypox posted at the arrival hall of Incheon International Airport. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] It has been reported that there are more than 900 cases of monkeypox infection worldwide.

According to Our World in Data, an international statistics site based at the University of Oxford in the UK, as of the 3rd, there were 898 confirmed cases of monkeypox. The number has increased to about 900 within a month since the first infection was reported in the UK.

So far, the outbreak has been spreading mainly in Europe and North America, including the UK (277), Spain (189), Portugal (143), Germany (66), Canada (61), France (51), the Netherlands (40), and the United States (26). In addition, cases have been confirmed in Asia, Latin America, and Oceania, including the United Arab Emirates (8), Australia (5), Argentina (2), and Mexico (1).

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that among 17 cases of monkeypox virus infection, 16 were related to homosexual intercourse and 14 were related to travel. According to the CDC, no deaths have been reported so far, and patients are recovering.

McQuiston, Deputy Director of the CDC, explained, "Men who do not have sex with men can also contract the disease," adding, "Monkeypox can spread to all populations and is being closely monitored."

Monkeypox is a rare disease related to smallpox, accompanied by rash, fever, and chills. However, it is known not to be as severe as smallpox.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has forecasted that the transmissibility of the monkeypox virus is relatively lower than that of COVID-19, making it unlikely to lead to a pandemic. Unlike COVID-19, which can be transmitted through the air, monkeypox mainly spreads through contact with a patient's lesions or bodily fluids.

However, as the global spread of COVID-19 stabilizes, countries are easing quarantine measures, and overseas travel is expected to increase this summer. Experts are expressing concerns about the long incubation period of monkeypox, which can last up to 21 days.

It is analyzed that the rapid spread of monkeypox within just one month is because patients could visit other regions without significant symptoms, leading some to suggest that the virus could potentially spread even faster.

Meanwhile, our government will issue a notification today, the 8th, designating monkeypox as a second-class legally notifiable infectious disease, similar to COVID-19. In this case, confirmed patients will receive isolated treatment in hospitals.

The government is also considering vaccination plans for those at high risk of infection.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.