Ministry says Mpox on the rise as 11th case detected in Cambodia

The Ministry of Health announced that another case of monkeypox was detected in a patient yesterday.

According to a Health Ministry’s press release issued yesterday, this is the eleventh case of monkeypox, also known as Mpox, detected in Cambodia.

The male patient who lives in Phnom Penh’s Chamkar Mon district is receiving treatment at a hospital. He tested positive by the National Institute of Public Health.

On Monday, another male patient from Dangkor district in Phnom Penh is still receiving treatment at the hospital.

Ministry of Health Spokesman Koy Vanny said yesterday that a health team has already visited the infected men to provide support, care and treatment.

“Monkeypox is a disease that can be cured with proper care,” he said.

The Ministry reminded the public to be aware of the symptoms of the virus and understand how the disease spreads and what preventative measures to take.

The Ministry of Health has observed that infections in the Kingdom are on the rise and is in line with the global trend.

Mpox is a viral infection that spreads by contact with body fluids, lesions on the skin or on internal mucosal surfaces, such as the mouth or throat, respiratory droplets, and contaminated objects.

The monkeypox virus is from the same family of viruses as the variola virus that causes smallpox.

Symptoms are similar to smallpox but milder, and Mpox is rarely fatal. Mpox is not related to chickenpox.

The ministry also stated that direct contact with infected parents and the umbilical cord during or after delivery are two other ways the virus spreads from mother to child.

Treatment of Mpox patients depends on the severity of the symptoms, and there are various treatments being developed and tested to prevent Mpox infections.

Prevention and control of Mpox depends on raising awareness in communities and educating health workers to prevent infection and stop transmission.

Close contact with infected people or contaminated materials should be avoided. Gloves and other personal protective clothing and equipment should be worn while taking care of infected people, whether in a health facility or at home.

Health professionals have been encouraged by the Ministry to put preventative and control measures in place at hospitals and health centres in order to halt the spread of the illness. In particular, they should be alert and identify patients who may be exhibiting symptoms of monkey pox, and suspected infected people need to be isolated.

There have been cases where people who do not understand the symptoms and try or avoid seeing a doctor.

As of January 25, the WHO recorded 93,030 cases of the disease causing 176 deaths in 117 countries.