2022–2023 mpox outbreak in Japan

2022–2023 mpox outbreak in Japan
DiseaseHuman mpox
LocationJapan
Arrival date25 July 2022 – ongoing (1 year, 2 months, and 2 days)
Date25 July 2022
Confirmed cases8[1]
Deaths
0

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.

Background

Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox)[2] is an infectious viral disease that can occur in humans and some other animals.[3] Symptoms include a rash that forms blisters and then crusts over, fever, and swollen lymph nodes.[3] The illness is usually mild and most of those infected will recover within a few weeks without treatment.[4] The time from exposure to onset of symptoms ranges from five to twenty-one days and symptoms typically last from two to four weeks.[5] Cases may be severe, especially in children, pregnant women or people with suppressed immune systems.[6]

The disease is caused by the monkeypox virus,[lower-alpha 1] a zoonotic virus in the genus Orthopoxvirus. The variola virus, the causative agent of the disease smallpox, is also in this genus.[3] Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct contact with infected skin or body fluids, including sexual contact.[3] People remain infectious from the onset of symptoms until all the lesions have scabbed and healed.[6] It may spread from infected animals by handling infected meat or via bites or scratches.[6] Diagnosis can be confirmed by PCR testing a lesion for the virus' DNA.[3]

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.[7] 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,[8] but it has been suggested that cases were already spreading in Europe in the previous months.[9]

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.[10] 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.[11] 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

  1. ↑ 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), which is currently reviewing all orthopoxvirus species. As of March 2023, the official name of the virus remains "monkeypox virus".[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Japan confirms second case of monkeypox after man tests positive in Tokyo". Japan Times. 28 July 2022.
  2. 1 2 "WHO recommends new name for monkeypox disease" (Press release). World Health Organization (WHO). 28 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "WHO Factsheet – Mpox (Monkeypox)". World Health Organization (WHO). 18 April 2023. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  4. ↑ "Monkeypox". GOV.UK. 24 May 2022. Archived from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  5. ↑ "Mpox Symptoms". U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2 February 2023. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 "Mpox (monkeypox)". World Health Organisation. 12 May 2023. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  7. ↑ "Monkeypox – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". World Health Organization. 16 May 2022. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  8. ↑ Pinkstone, Joe (17 May 2022). "Monkeypox 'spreading in sexual networks'". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  9. ↑ Nsofor, Ifeanyi (2 June 2022). "OPINION: Media coverage of monkeypox paints it as an African virus. That makes me mad". NPR. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  10. ↑ "Japan monkeypox preparation". Japan Times. 25 July 2022.
  11. ↑ "Japan confirms second case of monkeypox after man tests positive in Tokyo". Japan Times. 28 July 2022.
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