Ninth mpox patient confirmed in Korea
Another mpox patient was found Thursday, the ninth confirmed case in Korea.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention (KDCA) announced the latest confirmed mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, case in Korea on Thursday, and elevated the disease alert level from "attention" to "cautious."
The level raise follows "a comprehensive review of rising number of cases in Korea and adjacent countries such as Japan and Taiwan," a spokesperson for the KDCA said. The health authorities' mpox response unit will increase in scale and be under the jurisdiction of the Central Disease Control Headquarters for a more extensive response.
The ninth mpox patient visited a medical facility Wednesday for a rash and was confirmed positive with mpox upon a DNA test. Health authorities suspect the infection occurred through close contact with another virus carrier in Korea since the patient had no recent travel record.
The KDCA said there is a low possibility of a mass outbreak of the disease among the public because mpox spreads through close physical contact such as direct skin or sexual contact.
The mpox is further unlikely to affect the public health system since most patients recover from the disease naturally and there are sufficient medical response measures, the health agency added.
BY SOHN DONG-JOO [sohn.dongjoo@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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