Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control says it has received a batch of the antiviral drug tecovirimat to treat future cases of monkeypox. The medicine arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday night. After clearing customs and inspections, it will be distributed between the CDC’s regional offices.
The CDC says that according to the World Health Organization and EU, most patients suffering from monkeypox do not require specialized medication. Tecovirimat should be given only to people who develop serious symptoms or have compromised immunity.
Monkeypox is a viral disease that can occur in humans and animals. It is endemic in tropical regions of Central and West Africa. In May this year the disease started spreading widely outside of Africa for the first time. In late July the World Health Organization raised monkeypox’s status to a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Taiwan has so far identified 13 cases of monkeypox, two of them in travelers from abroad.