Two Confirmed Cases of 'M-Fox' in Gyeongnam, Domestic Infection Suspected

by Lee Seryeong

Published 17 Apr.2023 16:08(KST)

Updated 07 Aug.2025 15:20(KST)

A confirmed case of Mpox (also known as Monkeypox) has been reported in Gyeongnam as well.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced that after the 10th domestic Mpox case was confirmed on the morning of the 14th, three additional cases were confirmed by 2 p.m. on the 17th.

Among them, the 12th and 13th confirmed cases are Korean nationals residing in Gyeongnam.

MPOX virus particles. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The 12th confirmed case was diagnosed positive on the 15th after inquiring about testing at the KDCA call center on the 14th due to skin lesions and pain.

The 13th confirmed case is known to be a close contact of the 12th case and tested positive.

The KDCA estimates that all of these cases were infected domestically as none had traveled abroad within three weeks prior to symptom onset, and is conducting epidemiological investigations into risk factors and infection routes.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended changing the name from Monkeypox to Mpox considering that the term Monkeypox has been used in a discriminatory and stigmatizing manner against certain groups, races, and regions.

Accordingly, the KDCA decided in December last year to adopt the term Mpox instead of Monkeypox and is currently in a six-month grace period during which both Mpox and Monkeypox are used concurrently.