Ministry Of Health: Monkeypox In Indonesia 38 Cases, Latest From Cirebon

Illustration - Monkeypox or Mpox. (ANTARA/HO-Sutterstock)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) reported that the number of cases of monkeypox or Mpox in Indonesia as of November 10, 2023 reached a total of 38 cases, after experiencing the addition of one new case from Cirebon City, West Java.

"Today, the Mpox update is 38 cases after there were three additional confirmed cases," said Director General of Disease Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health, Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, as reported by ANTARA, Friday, November 10.

Maxi said the latest Mpox cases were reported from Cirebon City as many as one case, plus two other cases from DKI Jakarta.

Based on the Ministry of Health's report, Mpox transmission was detected in DKI Jakarta Province as many as 29 cases, West Java four cases, and Banten five cases.

A total of 17 other cases were categorized as suspects, and 109 were discharded because Mpox was not proven based on analysis of samples in the laboratory.

A total of 12 patients who were confirmed positive for Mpox have been declared cured.

Indonesia reported the first Mpox case on August 20, 2022, as many as one case. Since October 13, 2023, Indonesia has again reported the findings of the Mpox case.

In order to overcome this case, the Ministry of Health implemented a specific prevention strategy through the cooperation of the male-like male group (LSL) observer community for the delivery of education.

"The handling must be specific to reduce the stigma that could complicate our intervention," he said.

Maxi said the Ministry of Health also provided 4.500 doses of Mpox vaccine and 1.008 bottles of tecovirimat antiviral, as an effort to treat patients that are predicted to be available in the fourth week of November 2023.