Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital

The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced the confirmation of four new mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) cases, including two domestic cases and two imported cases. The patients are men in their 20s to 40s who developed symptoms after mid-May. Most had not received an mpox vaccination prior to symptom onset. They sought medical attention after developing rashes on the genitals, limbs, and trunk, along with symptoms such as fever, chills, and general fatigue. Following physicians’ suspicion of mpox, specimens were collected and reported for laboratory testing, which confirmed the diagnoses. Genetic sequencing identified that one imported case was infected with Clade Ib, marking Taiwan’s second imported Clade Ib mpox case, while the remaining cases were infected with Clade II.

The Taiwan CDC noted that the global mpox outbreak continues. In May 2026, 1,142 confirmed cases were reported across 32 countries and regions. Of these, 63.9% occurred in Africa, with three reported deaths, corresponding to a case fatality rate of 0.3%. The countries reporting the highest numbers of cases included Madagascar, China, France, Australia, and Germany. Since the large-scale global community outbreak began in 2022, more than 185,000 confirmed mpox cases and 509 deaths have been reported across 144 countries and territories, with the majority occurring in the Americas and Africa.

The Taiwan CDC further explained that the cross-border spread of Clade Ib mpox continues to pose an increasing global public health threat. Since January 2024, 63 countries and territories have reported confirmed Clade Ib infections. During the most recent six-week period (May 4–June 14), sporadic Clade Ib cases were reported in Asia, including one case in China and two cases in Thailand. In Africa, higher numbers of cases have been reported in Madagascar, Kenya, Guinea, South Sudan, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition, Spain and Thailand continue to report community transmission of Clade Ib, while Norway has reported its first Clade Ib case. Current data indicate that Clade Ib has a slightly higher, though comparable, fatality rate than Clade II, and disease severity is largely associated with the patient’s immune status.

Domestically, Taiwan has recorded 19 confirmed mpox cases as of July 6, 2026, including 15 locally acquired cases and four imported cases. All patients are young to middle-aged men between 20 and 50 years of age. Since mpox was designated a Category II Notifiable Infectious Disease in June 2022, Taiwan has accumulated 535 confirmed cases, comprising 496 domestic cases and 39 imported cases. Cases have been identified throughout northern, central, and southern Taiwan. Epidemiological investigations indicate that most patients had engaged in unprotected sexual activity, and nearly 90% had not received any mpox vaccination. The number of cases reported so far this year remains lower than during the same period in 2024 (24 cases) and 2025 (21 cases).

The Taiwan CDC stated that approximately 110,000 people had received at least one dose of the mpox vaccine by the end of June 2026, while more than 78,000 people had completed the recommended two-dose series. However, nearly 30% (over 31,000 individuals) have not yet received their second dose. The CDC emphasized that the incubation period for mpox can be as long as 21 days, and infected individuals may become contagious one to four days before symptoms appear. Vaccination remains the most effective method of preventing infection with both Clade I and Clade II viruses. A single vaccine dose provides approximately 40% to 80% protection, whereas completing the two-dose series increases protection to approximately 90%.

Currently, 312 designated healthcare facilities nationwide provide government-funded mpox vaccination services. Individuals eligible for free vaccination include those who, within the past year, have engaged in behaviors associated with increased risk of infection, such as having multiple sexual partners, engaging in commercial sex work, or having sexual contact at commercial venues; individuals with a history of sexually transmitted infections; or those whose sexual partners fall into any of these categories. Eligible individuals are encouraged to complete the two-dose vaccination series as soon as possible. Information on participating vaccination clinics is available on the Taiwan CDC website under the Mpox Vaccine section.

Individuals who are not eligible for publicly funded vaccination but are determined by a physician to have a significant risk of exposure may receive the vaccine at their own expense at eight designated travel medicine clinics across Taiwan. Additional information is available through the Taiwan CDC’s Travel Medicine Clinics webpage.

The Taiwan CDC again urged the public that, when traveling to areas experiencing mpox outbreaks or visiting domestic high-risk settings, they should practice appropriate personal protective measures and avoid social situations involving close or intimate contact with unfamiliar individuals. People should also remain alert to symptoms in themselves and others to reduce the risk of exposure. Individuals who develop suspicious symptoms—including skin lesions such as rashes, blisters, macules, papules, or pustules, as well as fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, or swollen lymph nodes (such as around the ears, in the armpits, neck, or groin)—should wear a mask and seek medical care promptly, while informing healthcare providers of their recent travel history, possible exposure to high-risk settings, and relevant contact history.

For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC website or call Taiwan’s toll-free epidemic prevention hotline at 1922 (or 0800-001922).

URL：https://www.cdc.gov.tw/Bulletin/Detail/M4x2HCdGrtmBvx1hI2u4ww?typeid=9