Mpox transmission is currently known to occur through close intimate contact with a sick person, but its one- to two-week incubation period means a sick person could be unaware of their infection. A rash on the hands, feet, chest, face or mouth, or near the genitals, is a sign of mpox.

Mpox poses significant material consequences, with Clade I (endemic to Central Africa) killing more patients than Clade II (endemic to West Africa and causing a global outbreak in 2022). As of Jan.11, 2023, reports indicated a cumulative total of 84,400 laboratory-confirmed mpox cases, including 76 deaths. In the meantime, Singapore reported a total of 21 confirmed cases of mpox, with the exception of an isolated case in 2019. By February 2023, 110 countries worldwide had reported mpox cases.

It is crucial for Southeast Asian authorities to remain vigilant without succumbing to panic. Southeast Asia’s proximity to regions like South Asia and interconnectivity with the Middle East, Europe and Africa increase the risk of mpox transmission to its population.

Yet the region strategically provides multiple entry points for cross-border movement of people and goods, and it is also one of the fastest-growing regions in terms of economy and population, creating tension for its policymakers to respond to the recurring virus outbreaks. Can the region learn its lesson from COVID-19 to tackle the mpox outbreaks?

Southeast Asia faced several challenges in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, both as a region and as individual countries, revealing both strengths and weaknesses. One significant issue was the uneven capacity for surveillance, monitoring and data sharing of virus outbreaks across the region.

While some countries had more robust systems in place, others struggled with limited capabilities. This disparity highlighted the urgent need to expand public health infrastructure and invest in regional response capacity to ensure a more cohesive and effective approach to future pandemics.