TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan has recorded 377 Mpox cases since the first imported case in June 2022, with 355 local and 22 imported cases, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported on Monday (July 8). Nantou County (南投縣) confirmed four local cases among young Taiwanese men, who allegedly engaged in unprotected sex.
The global Mpox tally has reached over 98,000 cases. The Nantou County Public Health Bureau stated that Mpox has an incubation period of up to 21 days, and individuals can be contagious one to four days before symptoms appear. The bureau emphasized that vaccination remains the most effective prevention method.
The bureau advised those who have engaged in high-risk sexual activities in commercial venues to complete the two-dose vaccination regimen promptly. They stressed that early Mpox symptoms are atypical, making distinguishing from other infectious diseases challenging. The bureau urged individuals to avoid intimate contact with unknown partners and seek medical attention if symptoms arise, disclosing any potential Mpox exposure or high-risk activities.
The bureau also noted that Mpox spreads through close contact with the rash, scabs, or bodily fluids of an infected person. Common symptoms include skin lesions on the face, hands, feet, and genitals, swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle aches, and painful urination.