11 Domestic 'Mpox' Patients... "Low Transmission and Fatality Rates"

KDCA, "Difference from Type 1 Currently Epidemic in Africa"

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on the 26th that although MPOX (formerly known as monkeypox) is sporadically occurring domestically, they have strengthened their response to block the influx of variant viruses.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the KDCA, as of the 23rd this year, there have been a total of 11 confirmed MPOX cases in South Korea. This is more than the 4 cases in 2022 but significantly fewer than the peak of 151 cases in 2023.

This year, there were no confirmed cases until March, but cases have occurred every month since April. More than half of the total confirmed cases appeared in July (6 cases), but the number sharply dropped to 1 case this month. This year's confirmed cases have occurred mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area, primarily among men in their 20s to 40s.

Additionally, the genotype of the domestic MPOX cases is all clade Ⅱ, which has lower transmissibility and fatality rates compared to clade I, which is currently prevalent in Africa. The confirmed cases were mainly infected through close contact such as sexual contact.

A KDCA official stated, "Unlike respiratory infectious diseases, the possibility of transmission during everyday activities is low, so the general public and international travelers can sufficiently prevent MPOX by following preventive measures and personal hygiene guidelines."

The KDCA expects to manage MPOX stably but has strengthened the management system by designating eight African countries, including Rwanda and Burundi, as quarantine management areas. They have also established a cooperative system with quarantine stations and local governments to ensure that suspected MPOX patients receive prompt testing and treatment if they enter the community.

MPOX diagnosis can be conducted at health and environment research institutes in 17 cities and provinces nationwide, where laboratory testing for clade I, which is prevalent in Africa, is available. Healthcare workers, laboratory testing personnel, epidemiological investigators, and contacts of MPOX patients who are at high risk of infection are advised to make vaccination appointments through the 'Vaccination Helper' website and get vaccinated.

Ji Young-mi, head of the KDCA, emphasized, "It is important to follow preventive measures to block the influx of MPOX variant viruses," adding, "When traveling abroad, avoid unsafe close contact with strangers and refrain from contact with or consumption of wild animals such as rodents and primates."

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