Isolating mpox patients at public hospitals ‘necessary’ and in line with WHO advice, Hong Kong gov’t says
Hong Kong Free Press
Hong Kong’s strategy of isolating mpox patients in public hospitals is “in line with the recommendations from the World Health Organization” (WHO) and “necessary” to safeguard public health, the government has said.
The comments were made by a government spokesperson on Friday afternoon in a statement issued in response to media reports on isolation procedures. The rare disease involves rashes and flu-like symptoms, and spreads through close contact.
According to current measures, those found to be infected with mpox are placed in public hospital isolation wards “until all infectious lesions are resolved and the patients become non-infectious,” which generally takes around two to four weeks.
The government spokesperson on Friday said: “The suggestion by some quarters that Mpox infections pose little health hazard and transmission risk, and the inference that the control measures currently in place are disproportionate or unnecessary, are counterproductive to stopping the spread of the Mpox infection in Hong Kong and are untenable and irresponsible from the public health perspective.”
Last month, a Centre for Health Protection (CHP) spokesperson said that “the transmission risk through casual social contact, including close family contact is extremely low.” Additionally, in an outbreak response plan put together by the CHP last June, mpox is described as “usually a self-limited disease,” meaning that it rarely calls for medical intervention.
A patient with mpox recently spoke to HKFP from a shared isolation ward at Princess Margaret Hospital, saying that he thought the “quarantine and measures used to stop the spread discourage people from being decent human beings and put additional risk on themselves and potentially others.”
He added that it felt to him “like we learned nothing” from living though, and ultimately with, Covid-19. “Although Monkeypox has been around for several years now they are unprepared to deal with it and also don’t take into consideration how it spreads.”
WHO recommendations
There has been a recent increase in mpox cases in Hong Kong, with 24 of the city’s 32 infections as of Friday confirmed since early July.
According to the government spokesperson, the WHO “recommends transmission-based precautions for suspected or confirmed Mpox cases; screening, triage, early recognition and isolation measures in health facilities,” adding that a similar containment approach had been adopted by other health authorities.
The WHO’s mpox fact sheet urges people with the viral illness to “isolate at home, or in hospital if needed, for the duration of the infectious period,” which it describes as “from onset of symptoms until lesions have healed and scabs fall off.”
Meanwhile, a WHO infographic titled “Recovering from monkeypox at home” suggests that patients should treat their rash by taking warm baths, keeping it clean, and not indulging the urge to scratch. It also recommends exercising “if you feel well enough and can do so while isolating,” doing things that are relaxing and enjoyable, staying connected, and asking for support to maintain mental health.
Hong Kong authorities would “continue to assess the risk and adjust corresponding prevention and control measures for Mpox according to the latest scientific evidence and developments, as well as the latest recommendations from the WHO,” the spokesperson added.
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