KUCHING: Sarawak has not experienced any local transmission of monkeypox (mpox) this year, according to Dr Chua Hock Hin.
The Head of the Infectious Disease Unit at Sarawak General Hospital said Malaysia has recorded nine mpox cases since the first was detected on July 26, 2023, with the most recent case in November of the same year.
He noted that one of the patients was a Sarawakian.
“Sarawak had a case last year, but there have been no cases this year. The infected patient was cured after three weeks of isolation without transmitting the virus to others. So far, there has been no local transmission,” he said.
He said this during the “ShallWeeTalk” Facebook livestream hosted by Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng today.
He added that while there is currently no local transmission in Sarawak, residents who travel to countries with reported cases, and those with multiple sexual partners, face a higher risk of infection.
He also highlighted that all hospitals, including Sarawak General Hospital, have standardised procedures in place to detect and manage mpox cases.
“Real-time RT-PCR is the confirmation test for detecting mpox.
“If a patient at triage is suspected of having mpox, they will be isolated, and further tests will be conducted. These procedures are standardised for not only mpox but also other infections like tuberculosis (TB),” he added.
Dr Chua also urged those traveling to countries with reported mpox cases to maintain good hygiene, lead a healthy lifestyle, and avoid risky behaviours.
He explained that there are two main types of mpox: Clade I and Clade II. Clade Ib, a lineage of Clade I, is primarily spread through human contact, including sexual transmission, and is currently fueling a severe outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
“Clade IIb, which also spreads human-to-human, has been responsible for the surge in cases since 2022, particularly through sexual transmission,” Dr. Chua added.
He highlighted that the DRC reported more than 15,000 cases and 537 deaths in 2024. Human-to-human transmission has primarily occurred within households, in healthcare settings, and through sexual contact, with the greatest risk among men who have sex with men (MSM) and sex workers.
