Days after the World Health Organization classified Mpox as a global health emergency due to an outbreak in parts of Africa, new cases have emerged in Sweden and Pakistan.
In response, countries around the globe are enhancing border surveillance to minimize the risk of the virus entering their communities. According to international media reports, Mpox has claimed over 1,000 lives.
China has imposed stricter entry regulations, requiring individuals showing symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, and rashes to report their health status upon arrival.
Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services has assembled the Communicable Disease Committee to assess the global situation and evaluate Fiji’s existing prevention, preparedness, and response strategies put in place during the 2022 Mpox outbreak.
The Health Ministry has announced plans to take necessary actions, including retraining healthcare workers. Similar to the 2022 response, efforts will focus on enhancing case identification and surveillance to manage cases promptly.
Mpox is transmitted through close contact, including sexual contact, interactions with mpox lesions and body fluids, as well as from contaminated materials like bedding and surfaces.
Although Mpox is typically a mild and self-limiting illness, with most individuals recovering with supportive treatment within weeks, previous outbreaks in African countries have demonstrated that severe cases can arise, particularly among those with weakened immune systems, young children, and pregnant women.
The Health Ministry urges recent international travelers experiencing symptoms such as fever, body aches, and rashes to seek medical attention immediately.