The cumulative number of mpox cases in Korea exceeded 100 on Monday, nearly one year after the country reported the first case in June last year. 

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the total number of confirmed patients with mpox, previously known as monkeypox, stood at 102 as of Sunday midnight.

Korea reported the first case of mpox on June 22, 2022. 

By March 13, the number went up to five, four of which were overseas cases and one, a physician who was infected by a needle when treating a confirmed patient.

The rest 97 people were all confirmed after April 7. Most of these people were domestically transmitted, meaning they were confirmed through close contacts, such as sexual contact.

The quarantine authorities began the second round of mpox vaccinations for those at high risk on Monday. If the second vaccinations lead to a stabilization of the mpox outbreak, the authorities will review lowering the four-tier crisis alert level from the current “caution” to “attention,” they said.

The KDCA has been conducting pre-exposure vaccinations at 33 medical centers and public health centers nationwide since May 8 for people at high risk of mpox. 

As of Sunday, a total of 3,438 individuals received Jynneos, a two-dose vaccine against mpox and smallpox infections. These people will receive the second shot starting on Monday, and a new group of 106 people will receive the first dose on Monday, the KDCA said. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) lifted the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for mpox on May 11 after 10 months.

However, Korean quarantine authorities have been maintaining the mpox alert level at “caution” due to the continuous domestic outbreak.

Meanwhile, a recent Swedish study by the Karolinska Institute suggested that vaccines against smallpox given until the mid-1970s could offer continuing cross-reactive immunity to mpox.