The first shipment of the mpox antiviral drug Tecovirimat has arrived in Malaysia, announced Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he stated that the medication will be reserved for high-risk individuals, particularly those suffering from severe illnesses or with weakened immune systems.
In addition, Dzulkefly revealed that an agreement for an mpox vaccine has been finalized, with delivery expected soon. Similar to the antiviral, the vaccine will also be prioritized for high-risk groups.
The minister noted that no new mpox cases had been reported in the past week, although monitoring efforts continue. The most recent case was detected on September 16, involving a patient who tested positive for the Clade 2 sub-variant of the virus. The patient exhibited symptoms, including fever, sore throat, and cough, beginning on September 11, followed by a rash the next day.
There was no record of international travel in the 21 days prior to the onset of symptoms. The health ministry confirmed that the patient is in stable condition and has been placed in isolation. Close contacts have been identified and are under health monitoring.
