SINGAPORE: The immunocompromised are at higher risk of contracting serious monkeypox, but the likelihood of the disease spreading one of the general public are “very slim”, experts mentioned.
The virus that causes monkeypox is transmitted through human to human being through large respiratory droplets or body fluids, especially through rashes and sores and intimate contact including hugging, kissing and sexual intercourse, someone said.
Singapore has reported four cases – three imported and a local infection – since June.
The most recent case reported on Fri (Jul 8) from the Ministry of Wellness (MOH) was a 30-year-old male India nationwide who lives in Singapore and had recently came back from Germany.
This came two days after MOH reported the country’s 1st local case associated with monkeypox infection , a 45-year-old man Malaysian living in Singapore.
But the likelihood of getting the disease are usually “extremely remote”, mentioned infectious disease expert Leong Hoe Nam, who runs a private practice at Mount Elizabeth Novena Medical center.
“To get it from individuals within Singapore in the local framework, (the chances are) very slim, unless of course your partner has (it), ” he said.
“The evidence is in the pudding. The cases which usually we had of monkeypox, we quarantined all the contacts but not one of them developed monkeypox eventually. ”
Dr Leong added that will even in a crowded MRT train, “the physical proximity that you’ve is not sufficient (for the disease to spread)”.
From January 1 to Jul 4 this year, more than 6, 000 laboratory-confirmed cases of monkeypox and three deaths have been reported to the Globe Health Organization (WHO) from 59 countries, territories and areas.
Q: Who is with higher risk?
Like many infectious diseases, those who are elderly or very young or even are immunocompromised are at higher risk, said Doctor Khoo Yoong Khean from the Duke-NUS Centre for Outbreak Preparedness.
The scientific officer added that this incidence in this present outbreak appears to be higher among men that have sex with other men.
“That does not mean that they are in a higher risk of getting the condition, but that the illness is currently circulating within this community, ” this individual said.
He added that certain possible reason why it is more detected amongst this particular community is that more often than not, its people do regular screening and health investigations, leading to heightened vigilance and detection.
“As we all try to understand the condition pattern, we need to communicate accurate facts to the public and avoid stigmatisation because this would lead to underreporting of cases by infected individuals and subsequently growing spread, ” this individual said.
He added that while monkeypox can be physically transmitted, it is not regarded a sexually transmitted disease.