Batulicin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Health Office in Tanah Bumbu District, South Kalimantan, urges people to be wary of monkeypox (mpox) transmission, even though no case found here so far.
"So far, no confirmed case reports of monkeypox, but this virus should not be taken lightly," said Head of Tanah Bumbu Health Office dr. Muhammad Yandi Noor Jaya in Batulicin, Wednesday.
Related news: South Kalimantan increases vigilance against mpox
He said the office is working with other stakeholders in the district in prevention effort, and keep monitoring the case that has the potential to cause outbreak and an extraordinary event.
The office has also coordinated with reference laboratory that has the capacity to carry out mpox examinations.
In general, Yandi said that to prevent mpox you must wash your hands with soap frequently and avoid sharing eating utensials with other people.
Avoid contact with wild animals, especially infected animals, cook food,,especially meat welldone, and to get mpox vaccine injection.
Meanwhile, Head of Disease Prevention and Control (P2P) at the Health Office Wenti said that the central government has distributed circular letter of the Ministry of Health's Director General of Disease Prevention and Control No. HK.02.02/C/2160/2024 dated August 20, 2024 concerning Increasing Awareness of Mpox at entry gates, ports and airports.
She said that the circular had been forwarded to comunity health centers (puskesmas) to be extended to the public to stay alert.
Wenti expounded that mpox can be mild with symptoms lasting around 2-4 weeks, but it can progress to be severe and lead to death (case fatality rate 3-6 persen).
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