Bogor City Health Office Issues Circular To Increase Vigilance Of The Spread Of Mpox

Head of the Bogor City Health Office Sri Nowo Retno (VOI)

BOGOR- The Bogor City Health Office, West Java, has made an appeal to increase awareness that the Mpox disease, which is a disease caused by Monkeypox Virus (MPXV), can have a mild to severe impact.

Head of the Bogor City Health Office, Sri Nowo Retno, in his press statement, Wednesday, September 4, explained that the average Mpox transmission vigilance occurred due to sexual intercourse and was dominated by same-sex relationships.

Sri Nowo explained, in connection with the re-determination of Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by WHO on August 14, 2024.

Also following up on Circular from the Ministry of Health No. HK.02.02/C/2160/2024 concerning Increased Vigilance of Mpox at Entrances, Ports and Airports that Serve Domestic Traffic and in Regions, the Bogor City Health Office conveyed vigilance and education regarding Mpox.

"This disease can be mild with symptoms lasting about 2-4 weeks, but can develop to severe death (Case Fatality Rate 3-6%)," said Sri Retno.

Sri Retno continued, Mpox transmission occurs through direct contact with animals and humans who are infected or through indirect contact.

Mpox transmission can be through direct contact with lesions or body fluids through kissing, touch, oral, vaginal and anal penetration with someone infected with Mpox. Indirect transmission can occur through contaminated objects, such as patient beds.

Mpox was once designated as the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) on July 23, 2022 and PHEIC status was revoked on May 11, 2023.

Nevertheless, cases are still being reported and there has been an increase in cases in 16 countries (including the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in June 2024. The cumulative number of cases from January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2024 was 99,176 cases with 208 deaths reported from 116 countries. The two regions that reported the most cases in June 2024 were Africa (60.7%) and America (18.7%).

Based on WHO as of June 30, 2024, 96.4% (87,189 of the 90,410 cases observed) were men with an average age of 34 years.

Several other key findings suggest that based on case data revealing its sexual orientation, about 85.8% (30,514 of the 35,550 cases observed) occurred in the male group having sex with men (LSL).

About 51.9% of cases (18,628 of the 35,861 cases that have been tested for HIV) have positive HIV status. A total of 83.8% of cases (19,102 of the 22,801 cases reported by the transmission method) were sexually transmitted.

In contrast to global level characteristics, based on investigations conducted in the WHO Africa Region as of June 30, 2024, it was stated that 46.6% (313 of the 672 cases observed) were women with an average age of 17 years.

Sekitar 50,4% kasus (339 dari 672 kasus yang ditangkap) berada pada kelompok usia 0-17 tahun, dengan 17,7% kasus (119 dari 339 kasus berusia 0-17 tahun) berada pada kelompok usia 0-4 tahun.

Meanwhile, he said, Indonesia had reported the first Mpox case on August 20, 2022.

On October 13, 2023, Indonesia again reported 1 case of Mpox without any travel history from infected countries (local transmissions). As of August 15, 2024, the cumulative number of Mpox cases since August 20, 2022, was 88 cases spread across the provinces of DKI Jakarta, Banten, West Java, DI Yogyakarta, East Java, and Riau Islands.

On October 17, 2023, Indonesia conducted an Mpox risk assessment involving multi-sectors. Through this risk assessment, it was found that the possibility and impact of transmission in the general public was small to moderate, while the group based on key findings was high.

Based on the results of a risk assessment by WHO in August 2024, countries in Africa and other countries where the outbreak of Mpox occurs especially in LSL and generally the spread occurs through sexual contact resulting from moderate risk. The results of these risk assessments can change according to the development of the situation and the condition of Mpox at the global level.

Retno also said that for the transmission of the Mpox disease in Bogor City, it was recorded that in the January period 14 August 2024 (before it was re-determined as a World-Scattering Public Health Emergency/PHIEC), the Bogor City Health Office found 1 confirmed case of Mpox on May 03, 2024.

Then, for the period 14 August 2024 03 September 2024, the Bogor City Health Office has not found or received a confirmed case report. However, the Bogor City Health Office continues to carry out strict surveillance of Potential Outbreaks and Emerging Infection Diseases.

As a form of increasing early vigilance against the current situation, said Retno, the Bogor City Health Office has issued a Circular of Increased Vigilance of Mpox (Monkeypox) in Bogor City Number 400.7.8/4643-P2P on August 22, 2024

Attending and following the invitation to an online meeting from the Ministry of Health regarding the Mpox Alert Improvement Workshop on August 23, 2024.

The Technical Coordination Meeting for the Discovery of the Mpox Suspected Case was attended by HIV program officers from all hospitals and health centers in Bogor City on August 21, 2024.

Ensuring that all needs from the reporting system to logistics supporting laboratory examinations are met.

"The Bogor City Health Office also urges the public to remain calm regarding the development of the Mpox situation in Indonesia and apply Clean and Healthy Living Behavior (PHBS) and consume foods with balanced nutrition as self-protection against various types of diseases," he appealed.

Finally, Retno also appealed to then identify the typical symptoms of Mpox disease, visit or report to health workers at the Puskesmas and Hospital if they experience symptoms or contact with suspected monkeypox.