2022–2023 mpox outbreak in japan 2022–2023 mpox outbreak in japan the 2022–2023 mpox outbreak in japan is a part of the larger outbreak of human mpox caused by the west african clade of the monkeypox virus. according to the ministry of health, japan's first mpox case was reported in tokyo on 25 july 2022. 2022–2023 mpox outbreak in japan diseasehuman mpoxlocationjapanarrival date25 july 2022 – ongoing (9 months and 18 days)date25 july 2022confirmed cases8deaths0 background these paragraphs are an excerpt from mpox and 2022–2023 mpox outbreak. mpox (pronounced /ˈɛmpɒks/ em-poks, formerly known as monkeypox) is an infectious viral disease that can occur in humans and some other animals. symptoms include a rash that forms blisters and then crusts over, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. the time from exposure to onset of symptoms ranges from five to twenty-one days and symptoms typically last from two to four weeks. there may be mild symptoms, and it may occur without any symptoms being apparent. cases may be severe, especially in children, pregnant women or people with suppressed immune systems. the disease is caused by the monkeypox virus, a zoonotic virus in the genus orthopoxvirus. the variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox, is also in this genus. of the two types (called "clades") in humans, clade ii (formerly west african clade) causes a less severe disease than the central african (congo basin) type. it may spread from infected animals by handling infected meat or via bites or scratches. human-to-human transmission can occur through exposure to infected body fluids or contaminated objects, by small droplets, and possibly through the airborne route. people can spread the virus from the onset of symptoms until all the lesions have scabbed and fallen off; with some evidence of spread for more than a week after lesions have crusted. diagnosis can be confirmed by testing a lesion for the virus's dna. there is no known cure. a study in 1988 found that the smallpox vaccine was around 85% protective in preventing infection in close contacts and in lessening the severity of the disease. a newer smallpox and mpox vaccine based on modified vaccinia ankara has been approved, but with limited availability. other measures include regular hand washing and avoiding sick people and animals. antiviral drugs, cidofovir and tecovirimat, vaccinia immune globulin and the smallpox vaccine may be used during outbreaks. the illness is usually mild and most of those infected will recover within a few weeks without treatment. estimates of the risk of death vary from 1% to 10%, although few deaths as a consequence of mpox have been recorded since 2017. an ongoing outbreak of mpox was confirmed on 6 may 2022, beginning with a british resident who, after travelling to nigeria (where the disease is endemic), presented symptoms consistent with mpox on 29 april 2022. the resident returned to the united kingdom on 4 may, creating the country's index case of the outbreak. the origin of several of the cases of mpox in the united kingdom is unknown. some monitors saw community transmission taking place in the london area as of mid-may, but it has been suggested that cases were already spreading in europe in the previous months. timeline the first known case of the mpox outbreak in japan was detected on 25 july 2022. according to the ministry of health, the index case was a man in his 30s who had recently traveled to europe, and he had contact with someone who was later diagnosed with mpox. on 28 july 2022, japan confirmed its second case of mpox, from a man in his 30s in tokyo and he had recently traveled abroad. it was officially said one victim had no contact with the other victim. on 5 august 2022, japan confirmed an additional mpox case. on august 11, a fourth case was reported. on october 6, 2 new cases were reported. one day later, a 7th case was reported. on december 29, an 8th case was reported. notes the world health organization (the authority on disease names) announced the new name "mpox" in november 2022. but virus naming is the responsibility of the international committee on the taxonomy of viruses (ictv), who are currently reviewing all orthopoxvirus species. as of march 2023, the official name of the virus remains "monkeypox virus".