Asian countries are stepping up measures to control monkeypox outbreaks.

In an announcement on Friday, Chinese customs said all people entering the country from abroad will be screened for symptoms of the mpox virus for the next six months. This will also apply to all aircraft and ships, as well as containers and goods coming from areas affected by mpox.

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, following an initial outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that subsequently 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 preventative measures" following the WHO announcement.

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

According to WHO figures, 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 preventative 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.

Neighboring Malaysia, which has recorded nine cases of mpox since the first infection was detected in 2023, has not reported any new infections or deaths from the disease.

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

According to a spokesperson for Thailand's Department of Disease Control, the mpox situation in the country "remains under control." To date, Thailand has reported 827 mpox infections, including 11 deaths, since January 2022.

Similarly, the Philippine Department of Health said on Wednesday that its surveillance system was on high alert following the WHO's announcement. A spokesperson for the Department of Health said the Philippines had reported nine cases of mpox since 2022, with no new cases detected in the country since last December.

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