KUALA LUMPUR – The Health Ministry is prepared for any outbreak of mpox here by enforcing heightened surveillance at the country’s entry points and with checks on business services involving skin contact.
It has also prepared 10 laboratories which are ready to conduct PCR testing for the virus when needed, two of which are private laboratories.
“Travellers arriving from countries that have reported mpox cases must monitor their health conditions daily, including symptoms of mpox, for a period of 21 days from the date of arrival in Malaysia.
“Individuals who have a history of having symptoms such as rashes or blisters on the skin will be advised to immediately undergo examination at a nearby health facility and avoid contact with other individuals to avoid the spread of infection,” the ministry said in a statement.
All medical practitioners are to promptly report any suspected or confirmed cases of mpox to the nearest district health office, it added.
“This will allow for the timely implementation of preventive and control measures.”
The ministry also said it would ensure business premises offering services that involve skin contact, such as spas and massage centres, maintain high standards of hygiene.
“Additionally, the ministry will ensure that no employees or customers exhibit symptoms of mpox, such as rashes or blisters, within these premises,” it said, adding that it would be distributing educational materials as part of raising awareness on mpox.
On August 14, the World Health Organisation declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern, following detection of a new mpox strain, clade 1b, found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is spreading more quickly and is more deadly than previous strains.
DRC has reported over 15,600 cases and 537 deaths this year, to date, surpassing the total for the previous year.
Mpox cases have also been found in four other East African countries – Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda – while outside of Africa, the infections have been reported in Sweden.
Originally known as monkeypox, the virus was first identified in the 1970s in DRC.
Mpox is a viral disease that can be transmitted from infected animals to humans. It can also spread through close physical contact between people.
Symptoms include fever, muscle pain and large skin lesions that resemble boils. – August 18, 2024