With the Songkran Water Festival set to take place in mid-April, Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) urged travelers on Wednesday to get vaccinated against Mpox at least six weeks before heading to Southeast Asia. The warning comes as global Mpox cases continue to rise, with the Ib subvariant of Clade I detected in multiple countries, including Thailand, which reported three cases in January.
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, has two distinct viral clades: clade I (with subclades Ia and Ib) and clade II (with subclades IIa and IIb). The CDC emphasized that the Mpox vaccine protects against both Clade I and Clade II virus strains. Since the vaccine requires two doses administered at least four weeks apart, travelers should plan ahead, as full protection takes effect at least 14 days after the second dose.
Taiwan classified Mpox as a Category II communicable disease in June 2022. As of February 17, the country has recorded 454 cases, including 426 domestic and 28 imported cases. While no Clade I infections have been reported in Taiwan, officials remain alert to the risk of transmission from imported cases.
Globally, around 4,800 new Mpox cases were reported in January, mostly in Africa, with sporadic cases reported in China, Australia, and the Philippines. From 2022 to January 31, over 125,000 confirmed cases have been reported worldwide. The WHO declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on August 14 last year and urges countries to remain vigilant against cross-border transmission risks.