Jakarta Records One Monkeypox Patient with Severe Symptoms
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23 November 2023 11:44 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta Health Agency recorded one more case of monkeypox or mpox as of today, Nov. 23, bringing the total number of cases to 43, including one past case in August 2022.
The most recent patient, who tested positive for the infectious disease, is unfortunately in critical condition due to suffering severe symptoms. “We need to raise our vigilance,” the Jakarta Health Agency’s head for surveillance, epidemiology, and immunization unit, Ngabila Salama, said in a written statement today.
Ngabila said the other 41 cases still had mild symptoms. The 42 cases were infected through sexual contact. “They are all men between the ages of 25-50 years,” she added.
As of today, the agency has also recorded one suspected case.
Of the total 42 positive cases this year, 24 patients have recovered from October to November. Meanwhile, the rest are still undergoing isolation in a number of hospitals in the capital.
According to Ngabila, patients need 2-3 weeks of treatment until they are declared cured. “The recovery time varies, with an average of three weeks.”
She emphasized that all patients need to be tested for HIV and sexually transmitted infections. People who have been in contact with patients in the past month are urged to get tested as soon as possible. “Especially if you are having symptoms, you need to get a mpox PCR swab immediately,” she said.
The Jakarta Health Agency had also administered the first dose of the monkeypox vaccine to 495 people classified as vulnerable groups. Ngabila claimed this met the city's target, and the second dose had begun.
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