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Indonesia tightens mpox surveillance following three new suspected cases in Jakarta
Authorities have been ramping up mitigation measures against the spread of mpox as three suspected cases are reportedly found in Jakarta, with one case being closely monitored at a health facility and the other two undergoing self-isolation at home.
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Soekarno-Hatta International Airport's Health Quarantine Center official shows a mobile surveillance laboratory parked at the Terminal 3 apron in Tangerang, Banten on Sept. 2, 2024. The airport health quarantine center deployed the mobile laboratory as a surveillance effort amid the global uptick on mpox cases. (Antara/Muhammad Iqbal)
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uthorities have been ramping up mitigation measures against the spread of mpox after three suspected cases were reportedly found in Jakarta, with one case being closely monitored at a health facility and the other two undergoing self-isolation at home.
The Jakarta Health Agency is readying community health centers (Puskesmas) all over the city along with educating medical personnel to handle suspected patients and prevent the virulent disease from spreading.
“All of our health facilities are ready [to handle mpox]. Medical personnel in all Puskesmas are also highly trained to recognize the early symptoms,” Jakarta Health Agency head Ani Ruspitawati told journalists on Monday, while giving an assurance that no positive cases were recorded lately.
“We have seen 11 positive cases so far this year, with nine coming from Jakarta and the rest from outside the city, [all of which have recovered]. We did receive reports about more suspected cases recently, which had also been treated and isolated, but we can confirm that they were not infected by mpox”.
Formerly known as monkeypox, the viral zoonotic disease is spread through close physical and sexual contact, as well as contaminated objects. Symptoms include muscle aches, fever and large skin lesions.
Mpox outbreaks have been reported since July in several African countries. The disease’s newest variant, identified as clade Ib, has been blamed for the recent outbreaks as it is more transmissible and deadlier than the other strains.
Read also: Soekarno-Hatta airport tightens mpox surveillance
