Monkeypox ‘unlikely’ to become a pandemic: SG health minister

There are over 200 cases of monkeypox detected.

Singapore Health Minister Ong Ye Kung bared that it is unlikely for the monkeypox virus to become a pandemic like the COVID-19 disease as it is contracted by close physical contact.

“It is transmitted mostly by close physical contact, and not airborne like COVID-19, which transmits more quickly and widely,” Kung wrote on Facebook. 

As 200 cases have been reported globally, the health minister said residents should not be surprised if monkeypox is detected in Singapore, which has so far detected zero infections, because Singaporeans travel widely. 

“Thankfully, we have in place the necessary protocols and public health measures, triggered by an imported case in 2019,” he added.

Monkeypox is a virus being transmitted by humans from animals with symptoms similar to smallpox, the World Health Organization said. The virus’ incubation period is from six to 13 days but can range from five to 21 days.