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Indonesia on alert as monkeypox emerges in Australia
The government is increasing its vigilance over the potential emergence of monkeypox in the country, after several cases were detected in Australia.
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A monkeypox virion, obtained from a clinical sample associated with the 2003 outbreak in prairie dogs in the Midwestern United States, is seen in this undated electron microscopy image provided by the US’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (AFP/Cynthia Goldsmith)
T
he Health Ministry is stepping up surveillance for monkeypox as more cases of the viral disease are being reported in non-endemic countries across the globe, including neighboring Australia.
Even though Indonesia had not detected a single case to date, ministry spokesperson Mohammad Syahril urged the public and all health workers to be alert and aware of the symptoms of the disease.
“Symptoms include fever, intense headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, swollen lymph nodes and a rash or lesions. These symptoms usually occur between six to 16 days after infection, although in some cases they occurred after five to 21 days,” Syahril told a press conference earlier this week.
He also advised people who were experiencing symptoms, especially people who had recently returned from countries that had reported cases of the disease, to get an immediate checkup.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), a total of 219 confirmed cases had been reported as of Wednesday in 21 countries where the disease is not endemic, including Argentina, Canada, Denmark, France, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Syahril said the government would soon be issuing a circular for health officials, border patrol officials and health workers to raise awareness on the disease. It was also preparing laboratories to run test for the monkeypox virus and facilities for treating potential patients.
The ministry was also updating its technical guidance on clinical management, infection prevention and surveillance for monkeypox based on the latest guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO).
