KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s health ministry reported on Tuesday a new case of mpox virus infection, specifically the clade 2 variety, which is considered a less severe variant of the disease. The patient, who was isolated and reported to be in stable condition, began experiencing symptoms including fever, sore throat, and cough on September 11, with a rash developing the following day. This case was detected on Monday.
Since July of the previous year, Malaysia has identified a total of 10 cases of mpox, all of which are of the clade 2 variant. The newly reported case is noteworthy because the patient had not traveled abroad in the 21 days prior to the onset of symptoms. The health ministry emphasized that all contacts of the patient are being tracked and their health monitored according to strict standard operating procedures.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years last month, following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that spread to neighboring countries. Although mpox is typically mild, it can be severe or fatal, particularly for children, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV.
