Key Points:
- According to reports, two cases of Mpox infection have been reported in the cities of Iquique (Tarapacá Region) and Tomé (Biobío Region).
- As of September 6, no cases of the WHO-designated “Mpox Clade 1” have been reported in Chile.
- To prevent Mpox, it is recommended to avoid contact with droplets or bodily fluids of symptomatic individuals, as well as animals that may carry the Mpox virus. Hand hygiene with soap or alcohol-based sanitizers is also advised.
1. Mpox Outbreak Situation On August 7, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the following during a regular press conference regarding the Mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighboring countries:
- Over 14,000 cases of infection and 551 deaths have been reported in the DRC this year.
- There are different strains of the Mpox virus. Clade 1 (Congo Basin type), currently spreading in eastern DRC, causes more severe symptoms compared to Clade 2 (West African type), which triggered the global Mpox outbreak that began in 2022.
- In the past month, about 50 confirmed cases of Clade 1 have been reported in four neighboring countries—Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda—where no cases had been previously reported, along with numerous suspected cases.
- Clade 1 cases have also been reported in the Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic.
- Given the potential for this outbreak to spread beyond these countries, both within Africa and internationally, an emergency committee has been convened to determine whether the outbreak constitutes a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” (PHEIC).
2. About Mpox (1) Overview:
Mpox is an acute rash illness caused by Mpox virus infection, primarily occurring in central and western Africa.
(2) Symptoms:
The incubation period is 5–21 days (typically 6–13 days), and the fatality rate ranges from a few percent to 10%. Symptoms include rash, fever, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, anal or rectal pain, and other skin and mucous membrane lesions. A distinctive rash typically appears on the face and limbs 1–3 days after fever onset, and may also affect the mouth, genitals, and eyes. Clinically, it is important to differentiate Mpox from smallpox.
(3) Prevention:
In areas with Mpox outbreaks, take the following preventive measures and seek immediate medical attention if infection is suspected:
- Avoid contact with droplets and bodily fluids of symptomatic individuals.
- Avoid contact with mammals, such as rodents, that may carry the Mpox virus (including carcasses), and refrain from handling or consuming bushmeat (wild game).
- Maintain hand hygiene using soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizers.
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