Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of Mpox in Jakarta, Indonesia During October 2023 to February 2024.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Mpox, a zoonotic disease, has emerged as a significant international public health concern due to an increase in the number of cases diagnosed in non-endemic countries. To support public health response efforts to interrupt Mpox transmission in the community, this study aims to identify epidemiological and clinical aspects of Mpox in Jakarta, Indonesia. METHODS: The study collected Mpox data from the Provincial Health Department in Jakarta, Indonesia, from October 2023 to February 2024. This included the symptom characteristics and demographics of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed and PCR-negative Mpox cases, which were then compared using thetest. RESULTS: Of the PCR-confirmed total of 58 Mpox cases, most were males (96.6%, 56/58). Of these, 67.2% (39/58) reported recent sexual activity within the 21 days prior to the disease onset date, with 41.4% (24/58) reporting only 1 sexual partner during that period. Among PCR-confirmed Mpox cases, common symptoms included fever (81.1%, 47/58), rash (63.8%, 37/58), and lesions (93.1%, 54/58). CONCLUSIONS: The predominance of male Mpox cases indicates transmission within men who have sex with men (MSM) networks, while higher prevalence among individuals with HIV or syphilis is due to shared behaviors, highlighting the need for surveillance, contact tracing, and targeted public health interventions.