By DR DURGA VETTIVEL
Mpox and public perception in Malaysia
MPOX, also known as monkeypox, is caused by a virus from the genus Orthopoxvirus, the same family that includes smallpox, cowpox, and variola viruses. Mpox was first declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in July 2022 due to its spread beyond the African continent. This emergency status was lifted in May 2023 but was recently reinstated on August 14, 2024, following a resurgence of cases worldwide. In Malaysia, there have been nine cases of mpox so far, all reported in 2023.
The mpox virus is divided into two main strains: Clade I (subclades IA and IB), typically found in Congo and Central Africa, and Clade II (subclades IIA and IIB),
