According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, there have been 25 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the country, of which 18 are local, indicating that the risk of community transmission of monkeypox has increased as of April 11. The Health Bureau of Taichung City Government appeals to the public to avoid close contact with unspecified persons. If you have suspected symptoms, you should seek medical attention and inform you of your travel and contact history. If you are eligible for vaccination, you should make an appointment to receive the vaccine.

The Health Bureau stated that the symptoms of monkeypox are similar to those of smallpox. However, the condition of monkeypox is mild, including fever, chills/shivers, sweating, headache, muscle pain, enlarged lymph nodes (such as around the ears, armpits, neck, or groin), and extreme fatigue. Patients will appear skin lesions one to three days after a fever, usually spreading from the face to other body parts, and the limbs are more common than the trunk. After the appearance of skin lesions, they will change according to the stages of macules, papules, vesicles, and pustules, ultimately forming crusts and shedding. In severe cases, the number of rashes can reach thousands. Symptoms can last for 2–4 weeks, but most patients can recover within a few weeks. Children and those with low immune function are prone to severe illness, with complications including secondary bacterial infections, pneumonia, sepsis, etc.

The Health Bureau indicated that the Centers for Disease Control has opened the registration of willingness to vaccinate against monkeypox in the second phase, targeting people who self-assess their risk and "had high-risk behavior in the past six months." Register at the "Monkeypox Vaccination Registration Platform (https://mpox.cdc.gov.tw/)" of the CDC from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm every Monday to Friday (closed on weekends and public holidays) to inoculate the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) vaccine. Besides, choose the hospital where you want to go for the vaccination (there are five hospitals in Taichung City, including China Medical University Hospital, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, and Tungs' Taichung Metroharbor Hospital).

As of April 14th, the Health Bureau declared that the number of people who have completed the registration of vaccination intentions at the Taichung Contract Hospital is 2405. And there are still available places for registration. The appointment system of the CDC will provide vaccination quotas based on the order of public registration and the selected hospital and send emails to notify the public that they can go to the chosen vaccination hospital for outpatient appointment registration. After receiving the appointment registration notice, please go to the provided hospital website link to complete the appointment registration, and then proceed to the hospital for vaccination according to the registered time.

According to the Health Bureau Director, Zi-Zhan Zeng, there was no monkeypox epidemic in Taichung City. It is mainly transmitted from person to person through close contact because monkeypox spreads to limited targets. However, they remind the public to implement self-protection in endemic or domestic risk areas. And avoid entering and leaving risky places such as social activities where you may have close contact with unspecified people. In case of skin lesions, such as rash, vesicles, macules, papules, pustules, and other suspected symptoms, you should wear a mask and seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Additionally, it is important to fully inform the doctor of travel, high-risk field exposure, and contact history.

You can find information about monkeypox prevention and control on the global information website of the Centers for Disease Control of the Ministry of Health and Welfare at https://www.cdc.gov.tw and the website of the Health Bureau of Taichung City Government (https://www.health.taichung.gov.tw). Professional Services > Infectious Disease Prevention and Control > Acute Infectious Diseases > Monkeypox Special Area. Or you can call the domestic toll-free epidemic prevention hotline 1922 for consultation.