June Focused on LGBTQ+ Festivals... Health Authorities Warn "Be Cautious of MPox Infection"

5 New COVID-19 Cases in Second Week of This Month... All Male

As major cities around the world are hosting concentrated LGBTQ+ festivals this month, health authorities have emphasized the importance of preventive measures such as vaccination to prevent Mpox (monkeypox) infections.

MBC photo archive. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced on the 19th that five additional Mpox cases were confirmed in South Korea between the 12th and 18th of this month, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 111. All confirmed cases are domestic males.

As for Mpox vaccination among high-risk groups, 4,365 people have completed their first dose and 682 have completed their second dose as of the previous day. The CDCH is expanding vaccination sites on weekends and weekdays targeting high-risk groups concentrated in the Seoul and Gyeonggi areas to carry out vaccinations.

Additionally, on the 13th, the CDCH held a briefing session for infectious disease specialists from 72 medical institutions nationwide, as well as related academic societies and associations, to share the latest research findings on the effectiveness of Mpox vaccination, clinical symptoms, and patient characteristics, and to gather opinions from medical professionals and experts. A recent risk assessment conducted in the United States on high-risk groups showed that the incidence rate of Mpox among unvaccinated individuals was 10 times higher than those who received two vaccine doses and 7 times higher than those who received one dose.

The concentration of LGBTQ+ related events and parades in major cities worldwide this month is a variable to consider. In Seoul, the Seoul Queer Culture Festival is scheduled to be held from the 22nd of this month to the 9th of next month. In particular, the CDCH warned that with the lifting of the COVID-19 public health emergency this year, the easing of entry and exit restrictions by various countries, and the participation of large crowds, the risk of infection among high-risk groups is expected to be high. The CDCH plans to provide information on the necessity and effectiveness of Mpox vaccination and distribute promotional materials at booths during the festival period.

Although anyone can contract Mpox, current trends in South Korea show that 89.1% of cases are males in their 20s and 30s, with 95.5% of infections resulting from sexual contact. Additionally, 79.1% of cases reside in the metropolitan area. Ji Young-bi, head of the CDCH (Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency), stated, "Since Mpox is mainly transmitted through close contact, individuals with symptoms should refrain from sexual contact and other close interactions," urging high-risk groups to actively receive vaccination.

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