Asian countries step up control of monkeypox epidemic

In a notice on Friday, China Customs said all people entering the country from abroad will be screened for symptoms of the virus for the next six months. This will also apply to all aircraft and ships, as well as containers and goods coming from places affected by the virus.

This highly contagious disease can spread rapidly through close contact. Symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, and large, boil-like skin lesions.

Beijing Daxing International Airport in Beijing, China. Photo: Reuters

This week, the WHO declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, after an initial outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has since spread to neighboring areas in Central and East Africa.

Hong Kong, which has recorded 13 cases this year, said it would continue to "closely monitor" the situation and "strengthen prevention measures" following the WHO announcement.

Japan's Foreign Ministry also issued a level one health alert on Thursday, urging citizens traveling or staying in seven African countries to exercise caution, NHK reported.

According to figures released by the WHO, nearly 100,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported since 2022, with 208 deaths. In 2022, cases were reported across Asia in countries such as India, Japan and Singapore.

Singapore's Ministry of Health said on Thursday that the immediate public health risk from the mpox outbreak in the country remains low, adding that precautionary measures have been put in place. As of July 27, 10 cases of mpox had been detected in Singapore. In 2023, there were 32 cases.

Neighbouring Malaysia, which has recorded nine cases of mpox since the first infection was detected in 2023, has reported no new infections or deaths from the disease.

Elsewhere in the region, countries have announced additional precautions following the WHO announcement. Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has also stepped up screening of arriving passengers to prevent an outbreak of mpox, the Bangkok Post reported.

The mpox situation in Thailand is "still under control," a spokesman for the Department of Disease Control said. Thailand has reported 827 cases of mpox, including 11 deaths, since January 2022.

Similarly, the Philippine Department of Health said on Wednesday that its surveillance system was on alert following the WHO declaration. A health department spokesman said the Philippines has reported nine cases of mpox since 2022, with no new cases detected in the country since December last year.

Huy Hoang (according to CNA, Bangkok Post, NHK)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/cac-nuoc-chau-a-tang-cuong-kiem-soat-sau-canh-bao-cua-who-ve-dich-benh-dau-mua-khi-post308070.html