The health ministry is actively monitoring the monkeypox outbreak in the country. The World Health Organisation, WHO declared the viral infectious disease as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on Tuesday. This means the monkeypox outbreak which initially started from Congo poses a significant public health risk to other countries as it spreads beyond the African continent. According to the WHO, the outbreak has now spread to Sweden. More than 15,600 cases and over 500 deaths have been reported so far this year.
Monkeypox or mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It causes painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, and flu-like symptoms.
It can spread through close contact such as kissing or having sex, animals, contaminated materials such as needles, and from a pregnant person to their unborn infant.
Considering the WHO report, the health ministry is currently focusing on preparing for possible outbreaks in the country by collaborating with relevant stakeholders.
The ministry has notified all health facilities, especially those at major points of entry, to remain vigilant and stay updated on the latest information from the ministry.
“The only chance of coming into our country is through the point of entry since this pox is not so endemic in our country. We are working very closely with the point of entry, the Department of Air Transport and the two airlines that we have. We are requesting the airlines to support us in getting more details about the travellers. If they happen to come from the affected countries, especially in the African continent,” said Ugyen Tshering, senior programme officer at the Health Emergencies Programme.
The ministry says the public need not panic as no new strain of mpox is reported in the region for now.
“People should not be very concerned about the situation. However, I would like to urge them to update about the new developments on these diseases by following very relevant sources of information through the Ministry of Health website and social media. And you may also follow another relevant source of information through WHO and others,” added Ugyen Tshering.
According to the WHO, the outbreak of mpox was declared a public health emergency in 2022. Later, in May last year, the UN health agency announced that it was no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern after there had been a sustained decline in global cases.
The virus was spread in over 100 countries with over 99,000 cases and over 200 deaths between 2022 and 2023.
According to Reuters, the current strain of the virus Clade 1b spreads more easily and the infection is more severe than its previous strain Clade 2.
Clade 1b has been identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Sweden.
Singye Dema
Edited by Phub Gyem
