Risky Sex Leads to Rising Monkeypox Cases, Says Health Ministry

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Health Ministry said positive cases of monkeypox or mpox in the country are increasing. The ministry’s Director General for Disease Prevention and Control, Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, said this is caused by risky sexual behavior.

“Patients with risky sexual behavior experience lesions and reddish rashes,” Maxi said in a press statement on Monday, October 23. Other symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, muscle pain, skin rash, and difficulty swallowing.

Based on the ministry’s data as of October 22, seven cases have been confirmed positive since they were first reported on October 13, or eight cases since mid-2022. 

Maxi said that transmission occurs from human to human through direct contact with body fluids or lesions of an infected person. He added that all confirmed cases were found in Jakarta. In detail, one case was detected in Jatinegara, one case in Mampang, one case in Kebayoran Lama, two cases in Setiabudi, one case in Grogol Petamburan, and one case in Kembangan.

All confirmed patients are men of reproductive age. The majority or around 71 percent are men aged 25-29 years. Meanwhile, 29 percent of them are men aged 30-39 years. Based on the investigation, six patients are people living with HIV (ODHIV) and have a bisexual orientation.

Maxi said all patients were undergoing intensive treatment in isolation rooms at several hospitals in Jakarta. He also claimed that all patients were in good and stable condition. “We are also monitoring people who have close contact with the patients,” he added.

Due to the rising number of cases, Maxi said the Health Ministry had taken measures to curb the transmission of monkeypox infection, including surveillance, therapeutic, and vaccination efforts.

RIANI SANUSI PUTRI

Editor's Choice: Jakarta Health Agency Talks of Symptoms of Monkeypox or Mpox

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News