Eleven Mpox Cases Reported in South Korea in 2023: Health Authorities Respond Proactively
Shillong, August 26: South Korea has reported eleven Mpox cases this year, all involving the less deadly Clade II variant, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) revealed on Monday. The cases, mainly affecting males aged 20 to 40 in the greater Seoul area, highlight close skin contact as the primary transmission route.
In response, the KDCA has enhanced border screening to tackle potential new variants. Last year, South Korea reported 151 Mpox cases. A recent case was detected last month.
The agency emphasized that Mpox, unlike respiratory illnesses, is unlikely to spread through everyday activities, urging the public to maintain basic sanitary measures. "As Mpox is a disease that can be prevented and treated, we believe that the outbreak can be managed stably under the current system," the KDCA stated.
Proactive measures include redesignating Mpox as an infectious disease subject to border screening. Travelers from Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic, Kenya, Congo, and the Republic of the Congo must report any symptoms, such as fever, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes, to officials upon arrival.
These steps follow the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recent declaration of Mpox as a global health emergency, with 14 African countries experiencing outbreaks driven by the more virulent and deadly Clade 1b variant, affecting more children.
As of now, Clade 1b has only spread outside Africa to Sweden in Europe and Thailand in Asia. South Korea’s vigilant approach aims to prevent further influx and manage the outbreak effectively.
(Source: IANS)
Original Story https://theshillongtimes.com/2024/08/26/11-mpox-cases-reported-in-2024-from-s-korea-no-new-virus-strain/
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