Indonesia, through the Ministry of Health, has announced 88 confirmed cases of Mpox spread across the country (17/8/2024). Based on confirmed weekly trends, the highest spread of the Mpox virus occurred in October 2023 during the period from 2022 to 2024.
Quoting the statement from the Acting Director General of Disease Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health, Yudji Pramono, it was reported that out of the 88 confirmed Mpox cases, 54 cases were identified as the Clade IIb variant. The Clade II variant is the predominant strain responsible for the Mpox outbreak, with a lower fatality rate. This disease is primarily transmitted through sexual contact.
According to the official website of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is a disease caused by the monkeypox virus. Initially, it was a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans.
Read also: WHO Raises Alarm: Mpox Now a Global Public Health Emergency
Mpox, or what was previously known as Monkeypox, can also be transmitted from human to human. In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) renamed the disease from Monkeypox to Mpox to avoid racism and stigmatization.
Out of the 88 confirmed Mpox cases in Indonesia, several locations have been confirmed through the Weekly Mpox Update in Indonesia (August 4-17, 2024), namely Jakarta with 59 cases, West Java with 13 cases, Banten with 9 cases, East Java with 3 cases, Yogyakarta Special Region with 3 cases, and Riau Islands with 1 case.
According to Yudji Pramono, the Acting Director General of Disease Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, 87 of the 88 confirmed Mpox cases have been declared recovered.
Previously, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to a new variant of Mpox spreading across 13 African countries. In the External Situation Report 35, published by the World Health Organization on August 12, 2024, it was reported that during the period from January 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024, a total of 99,176 Mpox cases were confirmed through laboratory testing. The death toll has reached 208, spread across 116 countries/areas/territories.
Read also: Southeast Asia Among Affected Regions by Mpox Spreading
Several Symptoms Experienced by an Infected Person
Mpox can be recognized by several symptoms experienced by an infected person, such as:
- The appearance of a rash, 1-3 days after the fever, in the form of macules, papules, vesicles, pustules, and crusts similar to those of smallpox.
- Fever, with a temperature above 38℃.
- Enlargement of lymph nodes.
- Accompanying symptoms may include muscle pain, difficulty swallowing, diarrhea, and genital inflammation.
Preventive Measures to Avoid the Spread of Mpox
The following are preventive measures to avoid the spread of Mpox:
- Avoid sexual behavior with multiple partners.
- Do not engage in sexual activity with someone showing Mpox symptoms, such as a pus-filled rash on the skin.
- Immediately seek medical examination at a hospital if experiencing Mpox symptoms, including the appearance of pus-filled rashes on the skin.
