The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced on the 22nd that 6 new cases of Mpox (monkeypox) have been confirmed, bringing the total number of domestic cumulative patients to 81.
All 6 new confirmed cases in the third week of May (14th to 20th) reside in Seoul. Among them, 5 are Korean nationals and 1 is a foreigner. The route of recognition was that all reported themselves after the onset of suspicious symptoms. All are presumed to be domestic infections as they had no overseas travel history or related exposure within 3 weeks prior to the initial symptom onset.
The weekly Mpox confirmed cases fluctuated between 15 and 16 since the third week of April (April 16th to 22nd), but decreased to single digits for the first time in a month.
The health authorities have been administering pre-exposure prophylaxis to high-risk groups since the 8th. Due to increased vaccination demand in the metropolitan area, from the 20th, additional institutions in Seoul and Gyeonggi areas that offer vaccinations on weekday evenings and Saturdays were designated, expanding the number of vaccination centers significantly from 33 to 130. As of the day before, the cumulative number of vaccinated individuals is 2,269. Currently, 3,637 people have made vaccination reservations.
The vaccine used is the third-generation vaccine (Jynneos), which has been confirmed to be more effective and safer than the existing second-generation vaccines. So far, there have been 40 reports of adverse events, which were mild, including pain, swelling, and redness at the injection site.
The health authorities stated, "We strictly protect the personal information of those reporting suspected Mpox symptoms," and urged, "If you have suspicious symptoms, please visit a nearby medical institution or public health center for diagnosis and testing, or promptly report and inquire through the call center (1339)."
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