Malaysia has a new worry, and it's not sinkholes. The government has assured us that the earth won't move under our feet. Instead, the latest cause for concern is mpox, a disease once thought to be confined to Congo. However, mpox has now spread across many parts of Africa and beyond.
Last week, Sweden became the first country outside of Africa to report an mpox infection. A Swede who returned from a trip to the continent was found to be infected. This development was alarming, as it marked the beginning of the virus spreading beyond Africa. But Sweden is not alone. Malaysia has also been affected, with nine cases reported as of last year.
The spread of mpox isn't limited to just a few countries. Our neighbors to the south, north, and east are also grappling with the virus. Thailand, which shares a land border with Malaysia, was the first country in Asia to report an mpox infection. A foreign tourist, who had last visited Africa, was discovered to be infected, further highlighting the virus's rapid spread.
In today's age of frequent international travel, the global spread of epidemics isn't just a possibility—it's almost inevitable. Recognizing the threat, Malaysia has taken several steps since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a "public health emergency of international concern" on August 14. One of these measures includes stricter health checks at airports and other entry points to the country.
The memory of the Covid-19 pandemic is still fresh in the minds of Malaysians. The devastation caused by the virus has made the public understandably anxious about another potential health crisis. Business owners are equally concerned, as the possibility of lockdowns looms large. They are well aware that such measures are neither good for an active life nor for the economy. However, it is clear that worry alone won't make mpox disappear.
To effectively combat mpox, nations must unite and take decisive action. This means learning from the mistakes made during the Covid-19 pandemic. It's undeniable that the SARS-CoV-2 virus could have been better contained. However, the blame doesn't lie solely on China; there were failures on multiple fronts. Medical experts agree that viral diseases like mpox, which spread through contact, are best contained at their source—in this case, Congo.
The world failed Congo in 2022, and it must not repeat that mistake. The containment of mpox will only succeed if nations rush vaccines to the affected areas. Although these vaccines have not yet been fully tested for efficacy, they appear to have kept the global death toll at 500 out of nearly 103,000 reported cases. Congo and other parts of Africa are in dire need of these vaccines until one specifically designed for mpox is developed.
Vaccine hoarding, as witnessed during the Covid-19 pandemic, only harms everyone in the long run. Unvaccinated individuals in countries without access to vaccines are at a higher risk of contracting the virus, spreading it further, and allowing it to mutate into new, potentially deadlier strains. As this article is being written, a new deadly strain known as Clade 1b has emerged. This underlines the need for a coordinated and timely response.
Another critical step in combating mpox is recognizing the importance of keeping wild animals in their natural habitats. Transporting them to research laboratories or other settings is risky. Denmark learned this the hard way in 1958 when mpox was first identified in colonies of monkeys kept for research. While no human cases were reported until 1970 in Congo, the incident serves as a reminder of the dangers involved.
In addition to these measures, nations must establish robust surveillance and contact-tracing systems, as recommended by the WHO. For Malaysia, this might mean reactivating the MySejahtera app, but with improvements to avoid the previous hitches and glitches that plagued its initial rollout.
Finally, there is an urgent need to raise public awareness about mpox. The general public must be educated on what mpox is, how it spreads, and the steps they can take to avoid it. A comprehensive national campaign would be an ideal starting point, helping to ensure that Malaysians are well-informed and prepared to protect themselves against this emerging threat.