KUCHING: Sarawakians are urged to be precautious following a declaration by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that monkeypox has become a global emergency.
Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian said so far there has been no monkeypox case reported in Malaysia but it is just a matter of time following the opening of the country’s borders and exponential rebound in travelling.
“Monkeypox (disease), the third global emergency declared by WHO. The other two were Polio and COVID-19.
“Therefore, we need everyone to play their role and do their part, to work together with our Sarawak Health Department,” he said on his Telegram Channel today (July 25).
Dr Sim, who is also the Minister of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government, said that anyone with symptoms of monkeypox should seek treatment and confirm the diagnosis by a medical practitioner.
“Practice self-quarantine; close contacts should also self-isolate at home and monitor the signs and symptoms for 21 days, and practice hand hygiene,” he said.
On July 23, World Health Organisation (WHO) director-general declared the escalating global monkeypox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
Monkeypox is a zoonosis – a disease transmitted from animals to humans.
According to WHO, most of the monkeypox cases were found close to tropical rainforests where there are animal carriers of the virus.
“The virus was found in animals such as squirrels, Gambian pouched rats, dormice, different species of monkeys and others,” it said.
It also said since early May this year, cases of monkeypox have been reported from countries where the disease is not endemic, and continue to be reported in several endemic countries.
“Most confirmed cases with travel history reported travel to countries in Europe and North America, rather than West or Central Africa where the monkeypox virus is endemic.
“This is the first time that many monkeypox cases and clusters have been reported concurrently in non-endemic and endemic countries in widely disparate geographical areas,” it said.
WHO also said that most reported cases so far have been identified through sexual health or other health services in primary or secondary health-care facilities and have involved mainly but not exclusively, men who have had sex with men.
