Ministry Of Health Categorizes Monkeypox As Zoonoses

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Mohammad Syahril, said monkeypox or monkeypox is a type of disease that is transmitted from animals to humans or vice versa (zoonosis).

"Monkey smallpox is included in the zoonotic criteria as a disease transmitted from animals," said Mohammad Syahril as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, May 24.

He said the Ministry of Health summarizes monkey deformity into the phenomenon of one health disease which is related to humans, the environment, and animals.

Until now, the Health Research and Development Agency (Balitbangkes) of the Ministry of Health has not detected a single case of monkeypox in Indonesia.

Previously, Deputy Minister of Health Dante Saksono Harbuwono in a Meeting With Opinions (RDP) Commission IX DPR RI, Monday (23/5), said that this phenomenon is related to the hypothesis where diseases originating from animals go to humans.

Dante said that apart from monkeypox, there were other types of diseases in this phenomenon, such as the Hendra virus, COVID-19, Asian Flu and so on.

According to Dante, monkeypox is caused by the ortho porphyria virus, which was previously found in wild animals such as tree squirrels, sacked rats and other non-human primates that were transmitted to animals and transferred to humans.

"But the transmission is still small between humans and continues to be identified in Indonesia," he said.

Dante said that it is possible for monkeypox to be transmitted between humans in close proximity, so a PCR molecular examination method is needed for skin reaction specimens.

The first case of monkeypox was reported for the first time in England on May 7, 2022. The disease is believed by health experts to be imported cases from Africa.

"We must continue to be vigilant by strengthening public health quarantines and surveillance of dangerous diseases," he said.