In the middle of an outbreak in the number of pox (monkeypox) cases worldwide currently, 13 cases of the less severe “Clade 2” have occurred in Singapore this year, per the health ministry bulletin on Thursday.
The ministry highlighted the fact that all the mpox cases confirmed in the city-state were of the Clade 2 type, which many people believe is less severe than the other strains of the mpox virus.
This news arrives a day after Thailand confirmed that its latest pox case was the Clade 1b strain, the second globally outside of Africa. The Clade 1b variant has raised concern across the globe because of increased transmission in close contacts in daily life.
The World Health Organization had earlier described the recent global pox outbreak as a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ after the new, more infectious viral strain.
Singapore has only recently confronted Clade 2 of the pox virus, which presents itself in significantly lighter manifestations than Clade 1; however, healthcare systems across the globe remain vigilant as the virus continues to spread to multiple continents.
Mpox is a rare infectious disease caused by the pox virus, although it was previously referred to as monkeypox. Its signs are similar to those of smallpox, but in most cases, they are less severe and include fever, headache, muscle and back aches, swollen nodes, chills, and fatigue.
Given the global epidemic of pox, governments are strengthening their monitoring and control measures to contain the spread of the disease and its impact. With reference to this revised Singaporean detection of 13 Clade 2, it is important to remain vigilant and adaptive in the future management of this emerging threat.
