Quickly Spread WHO Asks Southeast Asia Region To Increase Monitoring Of Monkeypox

Monkeypox/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The World Health Organization (World Health Organization/WHO) has asked countries in the Southeast Asia region to strengthen their surveillance system for monkeypox, which has begun to become an epidemic and has attracted international attention. experienced previous incidents," said WHO Southeast Asia Regional Director Poonam Khetrapal Singh in a written statement received in Jakarta, Monday, July 25 morning.

Khetrapal Singh said anticipatory efforts could be focused among at-risk populations, as cases generally occur during same-sex sex with men. Globally, more than 16,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported from 75 countries. Four of these cases were found in Southeast Asia, namely from India, three cases and one case from Thailand.

The cases that occurred in India, said Khetrapal Singh, were experienced by local nationals who returned from the Middle East, while in Thailand it was experienced by international travelers living in the local country.

"Importantly, focused efforts and actions must be sensitive, without stigma or discrimination," he said. The decision to classify monkeypox as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) was announced by WHO Director General Tedros, a day after he convened a meeting of the International emergency committee. Health Regulations (IHR) to review the multi-country outbreak, Friday 22 July.

"Much is still unknown about the virus. We must remain vigilant and be prepared to deploy an intensive response to reduce the spread of monkeypox," he said. Since the beginning of the outbreak, WHO has supported countries at risk by providing public health guidance and building and facilitating capacity. testing in the area.The monkeypox virus is transmitted from infected animals to humans through indirect or direct contact.Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct skin-to-skin contact or infectious lesions, including face-to-face, skin-to-skin, and droplet through respiration.

Transmission can also occur from contaminated materials such as linen, bedding, electronics, clothing, which have infectious skin particles.

Contacted separately, Griffith University Epidemiologist Dicky Budiman said the WHO's decision to include monkeypox as a PHEIC and as an emergency outbreak requires global collaboration and control measures.

"But that doesn't necessarily mean the pandemic is a global epidemic. PHEIC monkeypox because it meets the criteria has the potential to spread across countries and there is a need for international cooperation," he said.

Monkeypox is an unusual occurrence, and even research is needed into new patterns of the disease. "There is an unusual pattern of spread," he said. Dicky said other diseases that are now included in the PHEIC criteria, include Polio and COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the Spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Mohammad Syahril, said that until now, monkeypox cases have not been found in Indonesia based on report channels opened from all laboratories in the region.