One Additional Local Infection in M-Pox... Crisis Alert Level Raised to 'Caution'

9th Domestic Close Contact Confirmed Patient
M-Fox Task Force Expanded to Central Disease Control Headquarters

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) recently raised the monkeypox alert level from "Interest" to "Caution" on the 13th due to an increase in domestic monkeypox cases.

The KDCA made this decision after holding a crisis assessment meeting the previous afternoon. During the meeting, it was comprehensively reviewed that although the global outbreak is on a decline, the spread of cases continues in neighboring countries such as Japan and Taiwan, and the frequency of cases in Korea has increased compared to before, with three confirmed cases occurring within the past week.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, considering the nature of the disease, which is transmitted through close contact (such as skin-to-skin contact or sexual contact) with confirmed patients, the possibility of a large-scale outbreak in the general population is low. Most patients recover naturally, and sufficient response measures such as treatment and diagnosis are secured, so the impact on the public health system is expected to be limited.

The infectious disease alert levels consist of four stages: Interest → Caution → Alert → Serious. The "Caution" level is issued in situations of limited transmission of a new infectious disease imported from overseas or a domestically re-emerging or unexplained infectious disease. Following the elevation of the alert level, the KDCA will strengthen response measures by upgrading the currently operating monkeypox task force to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (headed by the KDCA Commissioner), and local governments will establish regional quarantine task forces focusing on areas where confirmed cases have occurred and adjacent regions.

Additionally, the KDCA reported that one more confirmed monkeypox patient was identified after the crisis assessment meeting. The ninth patient is a Korean resident living in Gyeonggi Province who visited a medical institution on the 12th with skin lesion symptoms. The medical institution suspected monkeypox infection and reported it to the local health center, and genetic testing confirmed a positive result. The patient is currently in isolation treatment, and the use of the antiviral drug tecovirimat is also being considered, according to the KDCA.

The ninth patient also has no overseas travel history within three weeks prior to the onset of symptoms, and close domestic contact has been confirmed, suggesting domestic infection. The health authorities are conducting a detailed epidemiological investigation to identify the presumed source of infection and other factors.

Ji Young-mi, Commissioner of the KDCA, stated, "This adjustment in the alert level is a preemptive measure to suppress community transmission through unidentified infected individuals." She emphasized, "Cooperation from the public and the medical community is crucial to prevent the spread within the community." She further urged medical personnel to wear appropriate protective equipment when treating suspected patients and to actively monitor and report cases, and asked the public to report to their local health centers if they suspect symptoms.

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