ASIATODAY.ID, KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia is tightening international entry gates for travelers coming from countries that have reported monkey pox (mpox).
The Malaysian Ministry of Health (KKM) in a media statement quoted from Jakarta, Wednesday, August 21 2024, said that it is always making preparations by strengthening surveillance and advocacy activities related to mpox through increased monitoring at all international ports of entry, where all travelers come and go.
“All travelers coming from countries reporting mpox need to monitor their personal health status every day including symptoms of mpox infection for a period of 21 days from the date of arrival in Malaysia,” emphasized the KKM statement.
KKM also asked to ensure that service providers that involve skin contact with customers, such as spas, massages and other risky activities, always maintain personal and environmental hygiene. The service is also obliged to ensure that no employees or customers at the relevant premises experience symptoms or show signs of mpox such as rashes or abrasions on the skin.
If any employee or customer experiences these symptoms, they should immediately have their health checked, according to the statement. As a form of surveillance, KKM ensures the readiness of Malaysia’s testing and diagnostic laboratories.
Currently there are 10 laboratories that carry out PCR tests for verification purposes, including two private laboratories. They also continue to monitor the situation with the spread of mpox at home and abroad, and will provide the latest developments from time to time.
In a media statement last Thursday, 15 August, KKM stated that the total number of confirmed mpox cases in Malaysia was nine, with the first case reported on 26 July 2023 and the last in November 2023. All cases had a history of carrying out risky activities and have now recovered and no deaths have been reported.
Based on KKM monitoring, no new mpox cases have been reported since then. Mpox is a type of infection caused by the mpox virus, which is a species under the genus Othopoxvirus. Infection can occur between humans and humans through direct contact with rashes or blisters on the skin of individuals who have symptoms and signs of infection. Infection can also occur through exposure to respiratory fluids during sexual intercourse.
Symptoms of mpox are fever and a “maculopapular rash” or rash and blisters on the face, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, genitals, conjunctiva and also the cornea. The incubation period, namely when exposed to the disease until when the individual shows symptoms of contracting mpox is five days to 21 days.
An individual can infect others with mpox a day before symptoms appear and until all blisters have dried completely. (Newswire)
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