SINGAPORE: The South-East Asia office of the World Health Organization (WHO) has asked countries to improve surveillance and public health measures for monkeypox, which the WHO has called a global public health emergency.
In a news release on Sunday, the WHO's regional director for South-East Asia, Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, suggested that research on vaccines be stepped up and that hospitals and clinics do more to prevent and treat infections (Jul 24).
There have been more than 16,000 cases of monkeypox in 75 different countries.
Four cases of monkeypox have been reported to the WHO in the South-East Asia region. Three of the cases came from India and one came from Thailand. The WHO also includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, North Korea, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste in this region.
Since June, eight cases have been reported in Singapore, which is in the WHO's Western Pacific region.
"Monkeypox is spreading quickly and to many countries where it has never been seen before, which is very worrying. But because most of the cases are in men who have sex with other men, Dr. Khetrapal Singh says it is possible to stop the disease from spreading further by focusing on people who are at risk.
She also said that any efforts and steps "should be sensitive and free of stigma and bias."
In an interview with CNA on Monday, American infectious disease expert Dr. Amesh Adalja said, "Anyone can get monkeypox, but this outbreak is different because it has spread through the social and sexual network." And if you look at how the disease spreads, most people who get it are men who have sex with other men.
The senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Centre for Health Security said, "That's a clear epidemiological signal that tells us we need to test that group more."
"There will be some leakage outside of that group, but the most important thing is to protect the people who are really at risk."
On Monday, Ong Ye Kung, Singapore's Health Minister, said that the Health Ministry does not recommend that everyone in Singapore get a monkeypox vaccine "Because the disease will go away on its own and because the benefits don't outweigh the risks.
He also said that the ministry will keep a close eye on the outbreak.
Two more cases of monkeypox were confirmed in Singapore on Sunday. One was a 46-year-old Estonian man who came from London on July 21, and the other was a 26-year-old Singaporean man.
"Monkeypox is a moderate risk around the world and in the region, but it could spread to other parts of the world. Also, we don't know a lot about the virus, "said Dr Khetrapal Singh.
"We need to stay on guard and be ready to take strong action to stop the spread of monkeypox."
