Situation Report of MPOX in Global and ASEAN Region - 17 Augustus 2023

Global Updates

• Worldwide, over 693 million cases and over 6 million deaths have been attributed to COVID-19.

• Europe: In its latest weekly update, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has noted a significant shift in the COVID-19 landscape across European countries (ECDC, 2023). While several weeks have witnessed stable or declining case notification rates, the ECDC now reports an increase in these rates. However, the ECDC emphasizes the need for cautious interpretation of these trends, citing a reduction in the number of countries reporting data and potential delays stemming from the summer holiday period. An analysis of the current data indicates a rise in transmission, albeit from low levels, in approximately half of the reporting countries. Furthermore, an upward trend is observed in the number of COVID-19 cases among individuals aged 65 and older, with this demographic showing an increase in half of the countries reporting agerelated data. Notably, certain countries have experienced a surge in clinic visits linked to respiratory symptoms, coupled with elevated test positivity rates. Among the subset of countries providing hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) admission data—comprising 11 in total—only two have reported an upward trajectory in one of these indicators. Moreover, among the 15 countries sharing death rate statistics, four have signaled an escalation in mortality rates within at least one specific age group