The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is urging travelers to regions impacted by Mpox to take precautions against close contact with individuals exhibiting symptoms of the disease. This advisory follows the World Health Organization’s announcement of an Mpox outbreak in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, with additional cases reported in surrounding countries, including Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Mpox is transmitted through close proximity, sexual relations, and contact with lesions, bodily fluids, or contaminated materials like bedding and surfaces. The Ministry has recommended that anyone who experiences fever and body aches followed by a blistering rash after traveling internationally should seek medical care and inform their healthcare provider about their travel history.
Overall, Mpox is considered a mild illness that typically resolves on its own with supportive care within a few weeks. Infection prevention and control measures are crucial to curb the spread of the disease. However, past outbreaks in endemic areas have indicated that some individuals, particularly those with weakened immune systems, young children, and pregnant women, may experience severe illness.
According to the Ministry, it has established protocols and guidelines for managing Mpox since the WHO declared it a global public health emergency in 2022. Training for healthcare professionals was implemented during that period and continues annually through the Fiji CDC to ensure readiness for infectious disease outbreak responses.
In light of the WHO’s recent reclassification of Mpox as a global health emergency, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services is assembling the Communicable Disease Committee to assess the current global situation. This review will evaluate Fiji’s existing prevention, preparedness, and response strategies implemented during the 2022 Mpox emergency, and will include necessary actions such as retraining healthcare professionals.