Key Points:
• On August 7, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced in a regular press conference that there is a severe outbreak of Mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and the infection is also spreading in neighboring countries.
• Travelers to the DRC and neighboring countries—Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic—should pay special attention to infection prevention. Additionally, travelers to other countries and regions should be aware of the potential for Mpox to spread and take precautions accordingly.
• Preventive measures for Mpox include avoiding contact with respiratory droplets or bodily fluids of symptomatic individuals and animals that may carry the virus, and practicing hand hygiene with soap and alcohol-based disinfectants.
Details:
1. Mpox Outbreak Situation:
On August 7, the WHO provided the following updates on the Mpox outbreak in the DRC and surrounding countries:
• Over 14,000 cases and 551 deaths have been reported in the DRC this year.
• Mpox virus has different strains; Clade 1, which is currently spreading in eastern DRC, causes more severe symptoms compared to Clade 2 (West African type), which caused the global outbreak that started in 2022.
• In the past month, Clade 1 cases have been reported in four countries adjacent to the DRC—Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda—that had not previously reported cases. There are also many suspected cases.
• Cases of Clade 1 have been reported in the Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic.
• Given the potential for the outbreak to expand to other countries and internationally, an emergency committee has been convened to advise on whether it constitutes a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).”
Statement by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus from the August 7 Press Conference
2. About Mpox:
(1) Overview:
Mpox is an acute rash illness caused by the Mpox virus, primarily occurring in Central and West Africa.
(2) Symptoms:
The incubation period is 5 to 21 days (usually 6 to 13 days), with a reported fatality rate ranging from a few percent to 10%. Symptoms include rash, fever, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, anal-rectal pain, and other skin and mucosal lesions. Characteristic rashes may appear on the face, limbs, and sometimes in the mouth, genital area, and eyes 1 to 3 days after fever onset. Clinical differentiation from smallpox is important.
(3) Prevention:
In areas affected by Mpox, follow these preventive measures and seek medical attention if infection is suspected:
• Avoid contact with respiratory droplets or bodily fluids of symptomatic individuals.
• Avoid contact with mammals, including rodents, that may carry the Mpox virus (including dead animals) and refrain from handling or consuming wild game.
• Practice hand hygiene using soap and water or alcohol-based disinfectants.
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