Monkeypox Cases Surpass 3,300, Reaching South Korea

The spread of monkeypox continues on an international scale. According to records from *Our World in Data*, the total confirmed cases reached 3,337 as of June 22, 2022.

This increase in monkeypox cases occurred within a relatively short period, less than two months, as shown in the graph.

"More than 3,200 confirmed monkeypox cases with one death have been reported to the WHO," said World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a press release on Thursday, June 23, 2022.

According to the WHO's official website, monkeypox is caused by the MPXV virus, which is zoonotic, meaning it can spread from animals to humans. The virus was first discovered infecting monkeys in 1958, while the first case of human infection was found in 1970.

Initially, monkeypox was only found in West and Central Africa. However, in recent weeks, the transmission of monkeypox has occurred outside its original region and has spread to approximately 48 countries in Europe, South America, and the Middle East.

Currently, monkeypox has even emerged in the Asia-Pacific region, namely Australia and South Korea.

According to a *Reuters* report on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, South Korea reported one confirmed case of monkeypox. The infected patient was a South Korean citizen who had recently returned from Germany.

Symptoms and Prevention of Monkeypox Transmission

The WHO states that the monkeypox virus can be transmitted through blood, bodily fluids, saliva, and physical contact with an infected person.

Monkeypox symptoms appear 1-3 days after initial infection and may include high fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, back pain, muscle aches, weakness, and a fluid-filled skin rash.

The monkeypox rash tends to be concentrated on the face, palms, and soles of the feet. However, the rash can also appear in the mouth, genitals, and eye area.

The following are preventive measures against monkeypox transmission according to the WHO:

* Avoid close contact and physical contact with people showing symptoms of monkeypox.
* Wear a mask if in close contact with symptomatic individuals.
* Wash hands with soap or hand sanitizer after contact with symptomatic individuals.
* Wash hands with soap or hand sanitizer after touching objects in public spaces/objects that may have been touched by symptomatic individuals.
* If experiencing symptoms, immediately self-isolate at home and contact the nearest healthcare facility.

According to the WHO, monkeypox symptoms usually last between 2-4 weeks and may resolve on their own without specific treatment.

The disease can also cause medical complications or serious symptoms in some immunocompromised individuals, but rarely results in death.

(Also Read: 5 Countries with the Highest Number of Monkeypox Cases in May 2022)