Taiwan reports first two local Mpox Clade Ib cases

Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has reported the first two local cases of the Mpox Clade Ib variant. Both cases involve men in their 30s who presented with symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and rashes on the abdomen, groin, trunk, and legs.

Epidemiological investigations indicate that both individuals had engaged in unsafe sexual practices, but the specific sources of infection remain unknown as the contacts could not be traced. Clade Ib is a variant that emerged in Central Africa in late 2023 and is noted for having more widespread skin rashes and a higher tendency for household transmission compared to the more common Clade II variant. While the severity and mortality rates are similar to Clade II, Clade Ib poses a higher risk to immunocompromised individuals, including children and pregnant women.

As of August 23, Taiwan has recorded 28 Mpox cases this year, consisting of 19 local and 9 imported cases. All patients have been males aged 20 to 50. Since Mpox was classified as a second-class statutory infectious disease in June 2022, there have been 544 cumulative cases in the country. The CDC noted that approximately 90% of confirmed patients had not received the Mpox vaccine. Health officials urge the public to complete the two-dose vaccination series for maximum protection and to seek medical attention immediately if symptoms like fever, swollen lymph nodes, or skin lesions appear.