3 locally acquired mpox cases raise concerns

A sign explaining the symptoms of mpox is displayed at Incheon International Airport in this photo taken on June 23 of last year when Korea reported its first mpox case. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han

By Jun Ji-hye

Concerns are growing over the transmission of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, as Korea has reported three locally acquired cases in just five days.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Wednesday, health authorities confirmed two more mpox cases ― the country's seventh and eighth ― on Monday and Tuesday, after the sixth case was reported last Friday.

The KDCA concluded these three cases were locally transmitted, as the three new patients had not traveled overseas in the past three months.

The latest cases were compared with the previous five cases that were linked to overseas travel. Concerns are raising that the virus may already be widespread in local communities.

Mpox is an infectious disease that causes rashes, fever, muscle aches and backaches. The disease continues to occur in central and west Africa, but cases outside of Africa have begun to be reported since May last year.

Korea reported its first patient in June last year.

According to the KDCA, there were no connections between the three new patients.

The epidemiological investigation by the KDCA revealed that the sixth patient had direct contact with 36 individuals. Three of them were categorized as a high-risk group, though all of the 36 have shown no symptoms that are associated with mpox so far.

The KDCA said epidemiological investigations into the seventh and eighth patients are still ongoing.

According to the authorities, the number of confirmed cases of mpox has decreased in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, but some Asian countries including Japan have seen an increasing trend.

Japan reported eight mpox patients last year, but 98 cases have already been reported this year.

Referring to Japan's case, KDCA official Lim Sook-young said, “We think cases not counted in official statistics will likely exist in local communities in Korea.”

The government is considering upgrading the classification of mpox to the level known as Caution from the current level known as Attention.

Korea has a four-tier system for coping with infectious diseases: Attention, Caution, Alert and Serious.

The authorities noted, however, that there was no need to be overly anxious, as the risk of transmission of mpox in the general population is relatively low, considering that the disease spreads through close, personal and skin-to-skin contact, unlike respiratory infectious diseases, such as COVID-19.

“We have sufficient vaccines, treatments and other medical capabilities to cope with mpox, so anyone who has related symptoms is advised to take a test and get treatment, if necessary, at nearby public health centers or hospitals,” KDCA Commissioner Jee Young-mee said at a media briefing.