Editor’s note: This article was first published in 2024.
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Singapore’s Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) has confirmed that two males in their 30s have contracted mpox, likely through sexual activity.
The infectious disease first originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970 and previously caused a global outbreak in 2022.
About two years later, an mpox outbreak in African countries was even declared an international public health emergency.
With reports of the new locally-transmitted mpox cases, should Singaporeans be worried about infections here?
According to a recent press release by CDA, the risk of Mpox has been reported to be disproportionally higher amongst gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men.
Image for illustration purposes only.
Common symptoms of mpox include rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, and swollen lymph nodes.
The recognisable rash begins as a flat sore and develops into a blister filled with liquid.
Source: Marina Demidiuk on iSTock via CIDRAP University of Minnesota
Infected persons may also experience exhaustion or weakness.
Individuals can contract mpox by touching those with the virus and coming into contact with skin lesions, body fluids, or respiratory secretions.
According to CDA, mpox is mainly transmitted through intimate or prolonged physical contact.
This includes touching, kissing, and having intimate relations with an infected individual.
Source: San Diego County News Center
Mpox is also transmissible via contaminated clothing and linens, or exposure to an infected person’s respiratory secretions.
Additionally, the virus can spread from animals to humans through bites or scratches.
Humans may also contract mpox through bush meat consumption and preparation, or if they come into contact with infected “blood, body fluids, or skin or mucosal lesions”.
At the time of writing, the CDA said that the risk to the general public in Singapore is currently low.
To prevent further infections here, the public is advised to practice vigilance and observe good personal hygiene at all times.
These include washing hands with soap, sanitising, and avoiding contact with persons who are unwell.
Individuals are also advised against high-risk sexual activities such as having multiple sexual partners or partaking in casual sex.
While CDA said that population-wide vaccination is not recommended, vaccines are available for high-risk groups on a self-paid basis.
These are currently offered at the following clinics:
The vaccine will also be available at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) from May 2026.
Also read: ‘Mpox is not the new Covid’: WHO says transmissions of the virus can be controlled
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Featured image by MS News and adapted from @JakeGagain on X.