2022–2023 mpox outbreak in singapore 2022–2023 mpox outbreak in singapore the 2022–2023 mpox outbreak in singapore is a part of the global outbreak of human mpox caused by the west african clade of the monkeypox virus. according to the ministry of health (moh), singapore's first imported mpox case was reported on 20 june 2022. it was the first ever confirmed case in southeast asia. 2022–2023 mpox outbreak in singaporediseasehuman mpoxlocationsingaporefirst reported21 june 2022date21 june 2022 – ongoing (10 months and 22 days)confirmed cases15 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. arrival the ministry of health (moh) detailed that the patient is a 42-year-old british man who works as a flight attendant. he was reportedly in singapore between 15 and 17 june 2022 and again on 19 june as he flew in and out of singapore. he tested positive for mpox on 20 june. on 6 july, it was confirmed that a 45-year-old malaysian man tested positive becoming the first locally unlinked infection in the country. situation as of 5 august 2022, there are 10 locally transmitted cases and 5 imported cases in the country, all of whom are in stable conditions or ready to be discharged. 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".