All mpox cases in HCM City are men

HCM City’s local authorities strengthen mpox supervision at border gates. Photo baotintuc.vn

HCM CITY — All of mpox cases reported in HCM City in 2023 and 2024 are men with the average age of patients being 32, according to the city’s Disease Control Centre.

HCM City has reported the highest rate of mpox patients in 2023 and 2024 among southern localities, with 156 cases and six deaths.

In 2024 alone, 49 cases have been reported so far, with no fatalities.

Nguyễn Hồng Tâm, the centre’s director said local authorities have maintained control over the disease at border gates and within communities and no changes in the mpox epidemiology have been reported.

The youngest mpox patient in the city is 18 years old and the oldest is 53.

Forty-six per cent of the patients are aged between 30 and 39.

Eighty-four per cent of cases identified themselves as men who have sex with men.

Fifty-five per cent of patients are living with HIV and seven per cent are those on HIV exposure prevention treatment.

Director Tâm said the virus strain that caused the outbreak in HCM City is still Clade IIb and the new strain, Clade Ib has not yet been detected.

The virus has been transmitted mainly among men who have sex with men or bisexual men, through unsafe sexual practices, he said.

The city’s health sector will continue to maintain disease prevention and perform genetic sequencing of some patient samples to monitor changes in viruses, he said.

The sector will actively strengthen supervision at medical examination and treatment facilities and integrate mpox supervision with HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities.

The municipal Department of Health recommends that people who detect possible symptoms of suspected mpox should immediately go to medical facilities for advice, diagnosis and treatment.

Patients need to strictly follow the instructions of medical staff to minimise complications, along with taking infection prevention measures. VNS