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Taiwan Reports First Transmissible Mpox Clade Ib Case
Developing
In Short: Taiwan has confirmed its first case of the highly transmissible mpox clade Ib variant, prompting health authorities to encourage vaccinations.
Health authorities in Taiwan confirmed the country's first case of the highly transmissible mpox clade Ib variant on Tuesday, urging eligible individuals to get vaccinated. The patient is a man in his 20s from northern Taiwan who reportedly engaged in unsafe sexual activity with an unspecified individual in Thailand in April.
In addition to the imported case, a separate local mpox case was reported this month involving a man in his 40s from northern Taiwan. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that more than 179,000 confirmed mpox cases and 503 deaths have been reported in 144 countries since 2022, primarily in the Americas and Africa.
Epidemiological investigations found that all confirmed cases involved unsafe sexual behavior, with nearly 90% of patients not having received mpox vaccinations. The CDC emphasized that vaccination remains the most effective means of prevention and offers protection against both clade I and clade II strains.
The case highlights the ongoing global mpox outbreak, with 48 countries and regions reporting 1,235 new confirmed cases in March, including five deaths, with around 70% concentrated in Africa. Thailand, where the patient reportedly contracted the virus, reported 1,032 mpox cases between 2022 and the end of January, with most patients being men aged 30 to 39.
Background
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main island of Taiwan, also known as Formosa, lies between the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast, and the Philippines to the south.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- First imported case of highly transmissible mpox clade Ib as vaccinations encouraged CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Guo Hung-wei at press conference. (CNA photo) TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Health authorities…
- The Centers for Disease Control announced the case during a regular press conference, saying the patient is a man in his 20s from northern Taiwan who reported engaging in unsafe sexual activity with an unspecified…
- Health authorities also reported a separate local mpox case this month involving a man in his 40s from northern Taiwan.
- According to the CDC, more than 179,000 confirmed mpox cases and 503 deaths have been reported in 144 countries since 2022, primarily in the Americas and Africa.
- Data shows the mortality rate for clade Ib is slightly higher than for clade II, though disease severity largely depends on individual immunity.
- In March, 48 countries and regions reported 1,235 new confirmed cases, including five deaths, with around 70% concentrated in Africa.
- Thailand reported 1,032 mpox cases between 2022 and the end of January, with most patients being men aged 30 to 39, according to a CDC press release.
- Epidemiological investigations found that all confirmed cases involved unsafe sexual behavior, while nearly 90% of patients had not received mpox vaccinations.