Monkey Pox Outbreak in Jakarta: 57 Confirmed Cases and Growing

Rindi Salsabilla, CNBC Indonesia

Lifestyle

Thursday, 11/23/2023 18:20 IWST

Photo: The palm of a monkeypox patient from Lodja, a town located within the Katako-Kombe Health Zone, is seen during a health investigation in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1997. (via REUTERS/CDC)

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes RI) again reported an increase in the number of cases of monkey pox or mpox in Indonesia, Thursday (23/11/2023). Director of Health Quarantine Surveillance (SKK) of the Directorate General of Disease Prevention and Control (P2P) of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, dr. Achmad Farchanny, revealed that as of Wednesday (22/11/2023), the total number of confirmed cases of mpox in Indonesia was 57 people.

“Eight people are still suspected or have been examined, but the laboratory results have not yet come out. Then, 191 people tested negative for laboratory results and 33 have recovered,” explained Dr. Achmad in an online press conference, Thursday (23/11/2023).

Dr. Achmad said that DKI Jakarta was recorded as the province with the highest number of mpox cases reported in Indonesia, namely 42 confirmed cases. Meanwhile, Banten and West Java followed as the provinces with the most cases, namely six cases each.

“Then East Java with a total of two confirmed cases and Riau Islands Province with one confirmed case,” said Dr. Ahmad.

The Indonesian Ministry of Health reports that all monkeypox patients are male. In detail, 13 patients were aged 18 to 24 years, 17 patients were aged 25 to 29 years, 24 patients were aged 30 to 39 years, 2 patients were aged 40 to 49 years, and the remaining 1 patient was aged over 50 years.

“Of these 57 cases, the sexual orientation of the majority of sufferers was MSM (Men Having Sex with Men), namely 35 cases. Then there were 11 cases of bisexual orientation, and 7 cases of heterosexual,” explained Dr. Ahmad.

According to Dr. Achmad, most mpox cases have more than one comorbid condition. Meanwhile, 39 patients were people living with HIV (PLHIV). Meanwhile, the remaining 16 patients were syphilis sufferers.

“Therefore, people need to practice safe sexual relations, including limiting the number of sexual partners. We also recommend being loyal to society,” emphasized Dr. Ahmad.

For information, monkey pox is a rare zoonotic disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox virus belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus in the family Poxviridae.

How monkey pox is transmitted

Quoting from the official WHO website, monkey pox can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with infected patients, contaminated objects, or infected animals.

In detail, the following is how monkey pox is transmitted due to contact with humans, animals and contaminated objects.

1. Inter-human

Transmission can occur through face-to-face contact (talking or exhaling), droplets, touching, kissing, or sexual intercourse.

2. Animals

Transmission can occur when hunting, skinning, or cooking infected animals.

3. Things

Transmission can occur through contaminated bed linen, clothing or needles.

4. Pregnant Mother

Pregnant women can transmit the virus that causes monkey pox to their unborn babies.

“Monkey pox can be prevented by avoiding physical contact with someone who is infected. In addition, vaccination can also help prevent infection for people at risk,” wrote WHO.

(hsy/hsy)

2023-11-23 11:20:45
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