Authorities increase entry point surveillance over mpox concerns

The Health Ministry is increasing surveillance at Malaysia’s international entry points and efforts to spread awareness on mpox.

This follows the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring the disease a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for the second time on Aug 14.

The ministry also announced that all travellers with reported mpox cases need to monitor their own health status daily, including symptoms of mpox infection for 21 days from their arrival date in Malaysia.

Those with a history of risky activities and symptoms like rashes need to undergo a check at nearby health facilities immediately and avoid contact with other people to prevent spreading the disease.

All medical practitioners in government and private health facilities need to notify suspected and confirmed cases of mpox immediately with the nearest district health office to ensure prevention and control measures are implemented, the ministry said.

They can refer to the guidelines on mpox management in Malaysia on the ministry’s official website, it added.

The ministry will also ensure premises that provide services involving skin contact with customers such as spas, massage parlours and other risky activities, practise personal hygiene and have clean surroundings, and that no customers have mpox symptoms.

"If customers or workers have such symptoms, they need to get a health check immediately,” the ministry said in a statement today.

The ministry will continue working with government and non-government agencies, including private hospitals and clinics in monitoring, detecting and tending to mpox clinical cases jointly.

Mpox was declared as PHEIC for the first time on July 23, 2022, and the status was rescinded on May 11, 2023.

- Bernama

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