The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is urging travelers to countries impacted by Mpox to take precautions to avoid close contact with people displaying symptoms. This advisory comes in light of the World Health Organization’s announcement regarding an outbreak of Mpox in the Eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with cases confirmed in neighboring nations like Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Mpox can be transmitted through close interactions, sexual contact, and contact with lesions, body fluids, or contaminated materials such as bedding and surfaces. The Ministry recommends that anyone who experiences a fever and body aches followed by a blistering rash after returning from international travel should seek medical attention and inform their healthcare provider about their travel history.
Generally, Mpox is considered a mild and self-limiting illness, with most individuals recovering with supportive care within a few weeks, alongside infection prevention and control measures to prevent transmission. However, past outbreaks in endemic African regions have indicated that severe cases can occur, particularly among individuals with weakened immune systems, children, and pregnant women.
The Ministry highlighted that it has established protocols and guidelines for managing Mpox since the WHO designated it a global public health emergency in 2022. Training for healthcare professionals took place during that time, and ongoing annual training in infectious disease outbreak response is conducted through Fiji CDC.
In light of the WHO’s recent declaration of a Mpox global health emergency, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services is gathering the Communicable Disease Committee to assess the current global situation. This evaluation will also examine Fiji’s preventive, preparedness, and response measures that were put in place during the 2022 Mpox emergency, along with the implementation of necessary actions, including retraining healthcare workers.