Announcement on WHO’s Mpox PHEIC Declaration

Due to a surge in Mpox cases in the foreign countries, the Ministry of Health issued an announcement that the public are urged to promptly report to the nearest health department if they experience symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes, headache, muscle pain, fatigue and fever with vesicular rash, and contact with someone having such symptoms.

Announcement

1. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox) a global public health emergency on 14 August 2024. This decision was due to a surge in Mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other African countries in 2024. The epidemic has particularly affected the eastern part of the DRC, where the Clade lb variant has spread both transnationally and to neighbouring countries.
2. The Ministry of Health (MoH) has been actively monitoring and inspecting cases of fever with vesicular rash in public hospitals and health departments across Nay Pyi Taw, as well as in states and regions, since the WHO first announced Mpox on 23 July 2022 as Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Although the WHO downgraded Mpox from a PHEIC on 11 May 2023 due to a noticeable decline in outbreaks, Myanmar has continued to monitor Mpox symptoms. Starting from 2022 to date, the MoH has conducted 129 laboratory examinations with no confirmed cases of Mpox in Myanmar.
3. Despite the lower risk of a Mpox outbreak in Myanmar, the MoH is working with relevant ministries and departments to monitor the disease at international airports, ports, and border crossings due to the Mpox outbreak in neighbouring and regional countries. Quarantine facilities are arranged, and medicines and medical supplies are provided for patients who test positive. Public awareness programmes to prevent the disease have also been intensified.
4. Mpox primarily spreads through close physical contact, including sexual contact, skin-to-skin contact, and direct contact with an infected person, animal, or contaminated material.
5. To prevent Mpox infection, it is essential to avoid close contact with suspected cases. If close contact is unavoidable, wearing gloves and masks is recommended. Regular handwashing with soap and water or using hand sanitizer is advised, and so is wearing gloves and masks when handling materials and goods that may be contaminated.
6. MoH urges the public to promptly report to the nearest health department if they experience symptoms such as red spots and blisters on the face, hands, legs, mouth, or genital area, accompanied by fever, swollen lymph nodes, headache, muscle pain, and fatigue. Additionally, individuals who have been in contact with someone from an outbreak region should avoid travelling, both internationally and domestically, for 21 days.

Ministry of Health

Source: GNLM (20-8-2024)

• Starting from 2022 to date, the MoH has conducted 129 laboratory examinations with no confirmed cases of Mpox in Myanmar.
• Mpox primarily spreads through close physical contact, including sexual contact, skin-to-skin contact, and direct contact with an infected person, animal, or contaminated material.
• Regular handwashing with soap and water or using hand sanitizer is advised, and so is wearing gloves and masks when handling materials and goods that may be contaminated.
• The public are urged to promptly report to the nearest health department if they have been in contact with someone from an outbreak region should avoid travelling, both internationally and domestically, for 21 days.