2022–2023 mpox outbreak in Singapore
DiseaseHuman mpox
LocationSingapore
First reported21 June 2022
Date21 June 2022 – ongoing (1 year, 6 months, and 26 days)
Confirmed cases15

The 2022–2023 mpox outbreak in Singapore is a part of the global outbreak of human mpox caused by the West African clade of the monkeypox virus. According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), Singapore's first imported mpox case was reported on 20 June 2022.[1] It was the first ever confirmed case in Southeast Asia.[2]

Background

Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox)[3] is an infectious viral disease that can occur in humans and some other animals.[4] Symptoms include a rash that forms blisters and then crusts over, fever, and swollen lymph nodes.[4] The illness is usually mild and most of those infected will recover within a few weeks without treatment.[5] The time from exposure to onset of symptoms ranges from five to twenty-one days and symptoms typically last from two to four weeks.[6] Cases may be severe, especially in children, pregnant women or people with suppressed immune systems.[7]

The disease is caused by the monkeypox virus,[lower-alpha 1] a zoonotic virus in the genus Orthopoxvirus. The variola virus, the causative agent of the disease smallpox, is also in this genus.[4] Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct contact with infected skin or body fluids, including sexual contact.[4] People remain infectious from the onset of symptoms until all the lesions have scabbed and healed.[7] It may spread from infected animals by handling infected meat or via bites or scratches.[7] Diagnosis can be confirmed by PCR testing a lesion for the virus' DNA.[4]

Arrival

The Ministry of Health (MOH) detailed that the patient is a 42-year-old British man who works as a flight attendant.[1] He was reportedly in Singapore between 15 and 17 June 2022 and again on 19 June as he flew in and out of Singapore.[1] He tested positive for mpox on 20 June.[1]

On 6 July, it was confirmed that a 45-year-old Malaysian man tested positive becoming the first locally unlinked infection in the country.[8]

Situation

As of 5 August 2022, there are 10 locally transmitted cases and 5 imported cases in the country, all of whom are in stable conditions or ready to be discharged.[9]

Notes

  1. ↑ The World Health Organization (the authority on disease names) announced the new name "mpox" in November 2022. But virus naming is the responsibility of the International Committee on the Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), which is currently reviewing all orthopoxvirus species. As of March 2023, the official name of the virus remains "monkeypox virus".[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "MOH | News Highlights". www.moh.gov.sg. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  2. ↑ "Singapore confirms case of monkeypox, first in Southeast Asia". Reuters. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  3. 1 2 "WHO recommends new name for monkeypox disease" (Press release). World Health Organization (WHO). 28 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "WHO Factsheet – Mpox (Monkeypox)". World Health Organization (WHO). 18 April 2023. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "Monkeypox". GOV.UK. 24 May 2022. Archived from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  6. ↑ "Mpox Symptoms". U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2 February 2023. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 "Mpox (monkeypox)". World Health Organization. 12 May 2023. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "Singapore confirms first local case of monkeypox infection". Reuters. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  9. ↑ "What to know about monkeypox and the situation in Singapore (updated 5 Aug)". sg.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
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