M-Flox 10th Confirmed Case... Why Did the Previously Quiet M-Flox Spread?

Concerns Over Community Transmission Amid Various Quarantine Policy Lifts
MFox Shows 'Close Contact' Infection Characteristics... Lower Epidemic Potential

Recently, the number of confirmed MPOX (formerly known as monkeypox) cases has increased to 10. As the atmosphere of daily life recovery has intensified, overseas travel has increased, and various quarantine measures such as social distancing and mask-wearing have been lifted, concerns are growing that the virus could spread within the local community. However, MPOX is characterized by transmission through skin or sexual contact, so the possibility of a large-scale outbreak is low.

On the 14th, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced that the 10th MPOX confirmed patient was identified in Daegu. This patient is a domestic resident who inquired about MPOX testing at the KDCA call center (1339) on the 12th. Although there was no overseas travel history, there was risky exposure during the incubation period, and suspicious symptoms were confirmed, leading to classification as a suspected patient. Subsequently, genetic testing confirmed a positive diagnosis.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The domestic spread of MPOX remained relatively quiet until the 6th patient was confirmed after the first case on June 22 of last year. The health authorities also downgraded the MPOX crisis alert level from 'Caution' to 'Interest' on February 20.

At that time, the KDCA explained that the decision to lower the domestic crisis alert level was based on ▲ the absence of additional cases for 91 days since the last domestic patient was confirmed (November 22, 2022), despite the World Health Organization (WHO) maintaining the international public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) ▲ WHO's assessment of the risk level in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific region as 'Low' ▲ and the fact that response measures were sufficiently in place.

However, the spread of MPOX appears to be increasing again. The health authorities raised the crisis alert level from 'Interest' back to 'Caution' starting from the 13th. The 6th to 10th MPOX patients, who have appeared since the 7th, have no overseas travel history within three weeks of symptom onset, suggesting recent local transmission cases.

This pattern differs from the previous transmission related to overseas arrivals. The 1st to 3rd and 5th patients all had overseas travel history, and the 4th patient was a healthcare worker classified as a high-risk contact after collecting skin lesion specimens from the 3rd patient.

The incubation period of MPOX is up to 21 days. The long incubation period makes it difficult to recognize symptoms even after exposure to the virus. Combined with the full-scale recovery of daily life, increased overseas travel, and the lifting of quarantine measures such as social distancing and mask-wearing, concerns about the spread of community infections are growing.

However, the health authorities believe the possibility of a large-scale outbreak is low due to the disease's characteristic of transmission through close contact. MPOX is transmitted through contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or mucosal lesions of infected animals or people. Additionally, since most patients recover naturally and sufficient response measures such as treatment and diagnosis are secured, the impact on the public health system is considered limited.

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