Re-Emerging Trend of Mpox Infection: The Indonesia's Experience and Review

Since Monkeypox (mpox) had an outbreak on 6th May 2022 in 75 countries, it has been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) that mpox is a public health of international emergency concern (PHEIC). WHO declared mpox as PHEIC again in August 204. Indonesia was also affected by the mpox outbreak with most of the cases coming from vulnerable populations. This study aimed to give an overview of mpox as well as the recent outbreak situation and management in Indonesia.

In this narrative review (using PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases combined with countries' national official reports and grey literatures), we discussed an overview of mpox including epidemiology, morphology, transmission, symptoms, treatment, and prevention. The management of mpox in Indonesia was specifically reviewed.

Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the mpox virus which has infected 79,231 individuals globally. In Indonesia, the first mpox case was detected in August 2022 with 0 deaths and 88 confirmed cases as of August 2024. The virus is transmitted via respiratory droplets or direct contact with contaminated objects, surfaces, or mucocutaneous lesions of an infected individual which could lead to symptoms such as epidermal papules-pustules and clinical characteristics of classical smallpox. Although antivirals such as tecovirimat, cidofovir, and brincidofovir have been raised as potential treatments for mpox, these agents were only considered in severe cases in Indonesia.

Mpox is a contagious disease that could cause major health problems if left uncontrolled, especially in specific vulnerable populations due to its high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, particular measures must be performed, especially in Indonesia.