PUTRAJAYA: Five new cases of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), involving local men, have been detected in the country, bringing the cumulative number of cases to nine.

       Health director-general Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan (pic) said all the new cases, detected from Oct 31 to Nov 29, were unrelated to previously reported cases.

       The fifth case, confirmed on Nov 10, involved a 40-year-old man who was involved in risky activities, and showed symptoms of fever and blistering on Oct 29.

       The sixth case was a 32-year-old man who showed symptoms of fever and blisters on Nov 7, and was confirmed five days later.

       The seventh case, a 35-year-old man, was a close contact with the sixth case, and exhibited similar symptoms on Nov 11, which was confirmed the following day.

       The eighth case involved a 26-year-old, who had been involved in risky activities in the past, and showed symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain (myalgia), swollen glands (lymphadenopathy) and maculopapular rash since Nov 6, and was confirmed on Nov 12.

       The ninth case involved a 47-year-old, who exhibited fever and rash on Nov 8.

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       “All these patients are undergoing isolation at the hospital and are in stable condition.

       “They deny having a history of travelling abroad within 21 days before the symptoms appeared,” Bernama reported him as saying.

       Dr Muhammad Radzi said mpox is a type of infection caused by the mpox virus, and infection occurs through close contact with individuals who have symptoms and signs of mpox infection.