Ong Ye Kung to give update on Singapore's mpox preparedness

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung will be chairing a press conference next week to give an update on Singapore's preparedness in the mpox outbreak.

- Shermaine Ang

He announced this on the sidelines of an event to mark a partnership between MOH Holdings (MOHH) and SMRT Corporation to recognise healthcare professionals.

There have been 13 cases of mpox reported in Singapore so far in 2024, according to Ministry of Health's weekly infectious diseases bulletin published on Aug 29. Seven cases were reported here in 2023. To date, all mpox infections here have been the less severe clade II infections.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body. A new sub-variant - clade I - has alarmed global health experts due to its ability to spread easily through close, personal contact.

Mr Ong had said on Aug 17 that the mpox outbreak in Africa and other places is "very worrying", and that Singapore should expect the virus to arrive at its shores.