Malaysia stays vigilant against monkeypox outbreak
Various prevention measures against monkeypox (mpox) have been put in place although Malaysia has recorded no new cases since December last year, according to Health Minister Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad.
Malaysian Health Minister Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad (Photo: Bernama)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Various prevention measures against monkeypox (mpox) have been put in place although Malaysia has recorded no new cases since December last year, according to Health Minister Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad.
There were 31 suspected cases as of August 26, of which 25 cases were confirmed negative, while six others were being monitored, he said, adding the number of mpox cases in the country remained at 9, with the first reported on July 26, 2023 and the last in November 2023.
Immediate steps have been taken by the ministry following an increase in mpox cases in neighbouring countries, including Singapore and Thailand, with more stringent screening at the country's entry points, and the activation of 10 laboratories that conduct PCR tests for verification purposes.
Besides, the ministry has monitored visitors coming from abroad, particularly African countries.
Meanwhile, the Philippines has detected two additional new mpox cases, both with MPXV Clade II, the Department of Health (DOH) said on August 26.
DOH's spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said the new cases include a 37-year-old male and a 32-year-old male from Metro Manila. The 37-year-old is currently confined at a hospital, while the 32-year-old is staying at home waiting for a confirmatory test result of a skin sample.
With the detection of new mpox cases, the Philippines has recorded 12 cases since July 2022.
Mpox can be transmitted through close and intimate contact with the infected. The common symptoms of mpox are a rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on August 14 declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern./.
Thailand has detected a mpox case in a tourist who is suspiciously the first case of Clade 1b infection in the Southeast Asian country, local authorities said on August 21.
Dr Yong Poovorawan, a clinical virologist at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine, said in a recent Facebook post that mpox's Clade 1b subvariant, which can be transmitted via respiratory droplets, poses a particular risk.
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