The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday reported 15 new cases of mpox, marking the highest weekly caseload.
All 15 cases confirmed last week were men aged 20 to 50, who developed symptoms such as a fever, swollen lymph nodes, blisters and rashes between March 26 and Sunday, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Guo Hung-wei (郭宏偉) said.
Thirteen of them were locally acquired and two were imported cases — a foreigner in his 20s and a Taiwanese in his 30s who arrived from Malaysia and Japan respectively, Guo said.
Photo: Lin Hui-chin, Taipei Times
A total of 40 cases have been reported since mpox was listed as a category 2 notifiable communicable disease on June 23 last year, he said.
CDC Deputy Director-General Philip Lo (羅一鈞) attributed the increase mainly to more activities being held over the five-day long weekend earlier this month.
Most of the men contracted the disease through intimate interactions, while limited contact tracing found that some of them became acquainted at a sauna or through online dating, and many had sex with multiple people or strangers, he said.
None of the 15 had been vaccinated against mpox, and 14 live in northern Taiwan, he said.
Mpox has an incubation period of up to 21 days, so the center advises high-risk people to be alert to possible symptoms after returning home, and to tell their doctor about recent travel destinations when they seek medical attention, he said.
CDC Division of Chronic Diseases head Chan Pei-chun (詹珮君) said the current mpox outbreak shows a limited transmission capacity, so the center has adjusted the handling procedures for confirmed cases, allowing mild cases who are deemed “not in need of hospitalization” by a clinical doctor to return home and practice self-health management under the “one person per room” policy.
In the first phase of self-health management, people with mpox should avoid leaving home, unless for urgent and necessary purposes, such as seeking medical attention or buying necessities and medicine; postpone non-urgent medical treatment or exams; wear a mask when going out and cover all skin lesions; and refrain from taking public transportation, she said.
They can end the first phase when they meet the following four conditions: no fever for at least 72 hours; no new skin symptoms in the past 48 hours; scabs have formed on all rashes and blisters and can be covered with clothing or bandages and no oral mucosa symptoms, Chan said.
In the second phase of self-health management, they can conduct limited routine activities, but must avoid gatherings where they might be in close contact with others; postpone non-urgent medical procedures, Chan said.
They should also continue to wear a mask when going out and cover all skin lesions; and preferably work or study at home, especially if it involves meeting children, elderly people, pregnant women or immunocompromised people, she said.
They can end phase two if they meet four criteria: no fever in at least 24 hours; no new skin symptoms in the past 48 hours; all scabs have fallen off and new skin has grown; and no mucosa symptoms, she added.
The CDC also released a set of self-care guidelines for mpox patients at home, including how to take care of skin lesions, and seeking medical attention immediately if they have difficulty breathing, are unable to eat or drink, or feel faint.
As of yesterday, 7,024 people had received a dose of mpox vaccine, and there were still 4,837 slots available on the online mpox vaccination registration platform (mpox.cdc.gov.tw), so eligible recipients are encouraged to book an appointment, Lo said.
A third batch of vaccines — about 20,000 vials for 60,000 doses — is expected to arrive in the middle of next month, he said.
The CDC yesterday also reported 12 new severe flu complications and a severe case of enterovirus infection.
It urged parents to be alert to their children’s conditions and not to send them to school if they feel ill.
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