Ministry ramping up surveillance though no new cases in M’sia this year
PETALING JAYA: There is no plan yet to implement a vaccination programme for monkeypox (mpox) in the country but the Health Ministry is ramping up surveillance, says Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni (pic).
“So far, we have not even talked about this vaccine and also if there is, we will fully study the requirements regarding mpox.
“If we look at the guidelines and also the way of infection, it can be avoided if the individual takes precautions such as by practising personal hygiene,” he told reporters in Penang after officiating the 34th Malaysia-Thailand Border Health Scientific Conference yesterday.
He was commenting after the World Health Organisation (WHO) recently declared mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
Lukanisman said that so far no new cases of infection have been recorded in the country, but the ministry is always closely monitoring the situation, Bernama reported.
“Usually, the symptoms of mpox infection can be seen clearly through physical signs such as spots on the body and the patient can feel the effects.
“At present, there is no obstacle for the people of this country to go abroad but they must always be vigilant by taking the necessary measures to avoid infection,” he said.
According to him, the government is also currently implementing strict controls at the country’s border checkpoints as a precautionary measure.
“So far, the process we are doing is the same as during the pandemic. All precautionary measures have been taken by the relevant agencies, especially at Immigration checkpoints and airports, and also at the border,” he said.
WHO has declared monkeypox a PHEIC following an upsurge in cases in several African and Asian countries.
Globally, 99,176 lab-confirmed mpox cases, including 208 deaths, have been reported between Jan 1, 2022 and June 30 this year.
While no new mpox cases were reported in Malaysia this year, nine cases were reported last year. In Malaysia, the risk is said to be from imported cases.
Mpox cases have also been reported in neighbouring Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines.
A PCR test is done to confirm the virus.
The WHO has released a detailed explanation on mpox.
What is mpox?
Mpox is an illness caused by the monkeypox virus. It is a viral infection which can spread between people, mainly through close contact, and occasionally from the environment to people via things and surfaces that have been touched by a person with mpox.
In settings where the monkeypox virus is present in wild animals, it can also be transmitted from infected animals to people who have contact with them.
Following a series of consultations with global experts, WHO has begun using a new preferred term “mpox” as a synonym for monkeypox.
What are the symptoms of mpox?
Common symptoms of mpox include a rash which may last for two-four weeks. This may start with, or be followed by, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen glands (lymph nodes). The rash looks like blisters or sores, and can affect the face, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, groin, genital and/or anal regions.
These lesions may also be found in the mouth, throat, anus, rectum or vagina, or on the eyes. The number of sores can range from one to several thousand.
Some people develop inflammation inside the rectum (proctitis) that can cause severe pain, as well as inflammation of the genitals that may cause difficulties urinating.
In most cases, the symptoms of mpox go away on their own within a few weeks with supportive care, such as medication for pain or fever.
However, in some people, the illness can be severe or lead to complications and even death. Newborn babies, children, people who are pregnant and people with underlying immune deficiencies such as advanced HIV may be at higher risk of more serious mpox disease and death.
How does mpox spread?
From person to person:
Mpox spreads from person to person mainly through close contact with someone who has mpox. Close contact includes skin-to-skin (such as touching or sex) and mouth-to-mouth, or mouth-to-skin contact (such as kissing), and can also include being face-to-face with someone who has mpox (such as talking or breathing close to one another, which can generate infectious respiratory particles).
The virus can also spread during pregnancy to the foetus, during or after birth through skin-to-skin contact, or from a parent with mpox to an infant or child during close contact.
From animals to humans:
Someone who comes into physical contact with an animal which carries the virus, such as some species of monkeys or a terrestrial rodent (such as the tree squirrel) may also develop mpox.
Exposure via such physical contact with an animal or meat can occur through bites or scratches, or during activities such as hunting, skinning, trapping or preparing a meal. The virus can also be caught through eating contaminated meat which is not cooked thoroughly.
Who is at risk of mpox?
People who have close contact with someone who has mpox are at risk of infection. People who have contact with clothing, bedding, towels, objects, electronics and other surfaces that have been touched by someone with mpox are also at risk.
Is there a vaccine?
Yes. There are vaccines recommended by WHO for use against mpox.
At present, WHO recommends the use of MVA-BN or LC16 vaccines, or the ACAM2000 vaccine when the others are not available.
Only people who are at risk (for example, someone who has been a close contact of someone who has mpox, or someone who belongs to a group at high risk of exposure to mpox) should be considered for vaccination.
