Photo credits to World Health Organization (WHO)

Current Situation on Malaysia’s Preparedness for Mpox Clade 1b

The mpox disease was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for the second time on August 14, 2024.

The spread of clade IIb of this virus began in 2022 and continues to this day, including in several African countries. Recently, the increasing spread of clade Ia and clade Ib has affected the Democratic Republic of Congo and other countries in Africa.

This increase is due to the clade’s higher transmissibility. Clade Ib has also been detected outside Africa, namely in Sweden and Thailand, on August 16 and 21, 2024, respectively, with travel histories linked to Africa.

Given the current situation involving neighbouring countries, Malaysia is also at risk of being affected.

This disease typically spreads between humans through close contact with infected individuals. Infection can occur through direct contact with rashes or blisters on the skin of individuals showing symptoms of mpox, or through exposure to respiratory fluids, such as during intimate contact.

A total of 13 laboratories are capable of conducting mpox detection tests, including 8 government laboratories and 5 private laboratories.

Two of these can perform genetic sequencing to detect virus variants. For the year 2024, as of August 27, 2024, a total of 33 suspected mpox cases have been reported at health facilities, of which 32 cases have been confirmed negative, and one case is still awaiting laboratory results.

From August 16 to 27, 2024, nearly 2.64 million travellers were screened for mpox symptoms at international entry points, with no suspected mpox cases reported so far. Travellers from high-risk countries are advised to monitor their health for 21 days from the date of arrival.

As an early preparation, the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) has engaged with various ministries, agencies, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to inform them of their respective roles in mpox control and prevention activities.

A virtual session was also held with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Malaysian representatives in African countries to foster cooperation in obtaining and disseminating information to Malaysians in those countries.

MOH has also disseminated information related to mpox to the public through various channels, including mass media and social media.

Preparedness must be further enhanced to face any mpox infection scenarios.

Therefore, MOH urges:

1. High-risk individuals experiencing mpox symptoms such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes/blisters to seek medical examination at nearby health facilities.
2. Avoid direct contact with individuals suspected or confirmed to be infected with mpox, including sexual contact.
3. Practice self-health control measures such as washing hands with water and soap or using hand sanitisers.

At present, the World Health Organization (WHO) has not issued any advice or recommendations for travel restrictions.

Therefore, individuals visiting high-risk countries are advised to take preventive measures, such as maintaining personal hygiene, avoiding contact with symptomatic individuals or sick animals, seeking medical attention immediately if symptoms appear, and adhering to guidelines issued by MOH from time to time.

As proven when Malaysia and other countries successfully overcame previous outbreaks, this mpox threat also requires a whole-of-nation and whole-of-planet approach, as well as high self-health control by every individual.

MOH will continue to collaborate closely with WHO and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in managing the mpox situation.