Health Minister: 'Monkeypox Won't Spread as Fast as COVID-19'

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin called on the public to remain calm despite the rising number of monkeypox or mpox cases in the country. He stressed that the infection would not spread as quickly as COVID-19.

“It is different with COVID-19 as it (mpox) is sexually transmitted, so it will not spread as fast as COVID-19 [which is through breathing],” Budi said in Jakarta, on Saturday, Nov. 11.

He emphasized that the infectious disease spread within a particular group. The ministry reported that it is generally experienced by same-sex sexually oriented community groups, including men with HIV and syphilis.

Hence, the ministry encouraged the implementation of a healthy lifestyle and vaccine distribution. The government had prepared 5,000 doses to be distributed to the vulnerable groups in tandem with social organizations.

“The medicine is also ready in the hospital. Thank God, there have been no fatal cases so far,” the minister said.

Jakarta sees rising number of mpox cases to 34

As of Sunday, Nov. 12, Jakarta recorded the highest number of monkeypox cases. “There are 44 cases nationwide. In detail, Jakarta has 33 cases, Banten has five cases, West Java has five cases, and Riau Islands has one case,” said Ngabila Salama, the head of Jakarta Health Agency’s surveillance, epidemiology, and immunization unit, on Monday, Nov. 13.

Citing data from the agency’s page surveilans-dinkes.jakarta.go.id, Jakarta has had a total of 34 mpox cases since August 2022. One patient recovered in August 2022, and the other eight patients were declared cured in October-November 2023.

The 33 people infected with monkeypox were males between the ages of 25 and 50 years. All of them presented mild symptoms and were infected through sexual contact. At present, 25 patients remain in isolation at the hospital.

ANTARA

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