Singapore’s Ministry of Health does not recommend mass vaccination of the entire population once morest monkeypox at this time, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced on Facebook on Friday.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, but the level of risk it poses remains moderate, Ong said.
“So far, given the self-limiting nature of the disease, the Ministry of Health does not recommend mass vaccination of the entire population once morest monkeypox, because the benefits do not outweigh on the risks,” he said, adding that the government will continue to monitor the situation closely.
The ministry on Sunday confirmed two new cases of monkeypox in the country. The first is an imported case involving a 46-year-old Estonian man who arrived in Singapore from London on July 21. He tested positive on July 24.
The second is a local case involving a 26-year-old Singaporean who tested positive on July 24.
Both are in stable condition and have no connection to any cases previously recorded by the ministry.
According to Ong, a total of four imported cases and one local case of monkeypox were reported in Singapore and immediately quarantined. There is no evidence of local transmission.
