These Asian countries have stepped up preventive measures | Wilnesh News

Asian countries have stepped up preventive measures after recent cases of a new, more virulent strain of MPOX, known as Clade 1b, were discovered outside the African continent.

At least four countries have recently reported MPO cases outside the African continent—Thailand, the Philippines, Sweden and Pakistan.

Thailand confirmed its first case of the strain on Thursday, Surveillance and screening measures will be strengthened at its international airport.

Travelers from countries with MPOX outbreaks must register on the Ministry of Health’s online platform before departing for Thailand and undergo health screening upon arrival. Visitors found to have symptoms of MPOX will be quarantined.

Travelers arriving from countries with outbreaks will be screened for rashes and have their temperatures checked. The government has also prepared isolation facilities to prevent a large-scale outbreak.

The first and only clade 1b strain in Thailand to date was found in a 66-year-old European man who arrived from Africa.

Singapore takes steps Strengthen MPOX preventive measures Thursday. The country’s health ministry said temperature and visual checks would be carried out on incoming passengers and crew arriving from flights to certain airports. Travelers who develop rash, fever or other symptoms of acne will be referred for medical evaluation.

That said, there are currently no direct flights between Singapore and any MPOX outbreak countries.

Similar screening procedures will be implemented at maritime inspection stations for those arriving by boat from MPOX-affected areas. The health ministry said that as of Thursday, 13 “milder” cases of Clade 2 infection had been detected in the country this year. There have been no cases of the Clade 1b strain.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has re-designated mpox as a quarantine infectious disease, The country’s health authorities said on Tuesday.

Arriving travelers from eight African countries who develop measles symptoms are required to report to quarantine officials, including Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Ethiopia, Central African Republic, Kenya, Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Epidemiologists and public health doctors will be deployed at the Ethiopian direct gate at Incheon Airport, Seoul’s main international airport. There have been no cases of the Clade 1b variant in South Korea.

While the Philippines has yet to roll out specific precautionary measures at airports, Philippine senators Recent calls for schools to enforce stricter hygiene rules and hygiene measures. He also reiterated his call for the establishment of the Philippine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent all diseases of public health importance.

The Philippines this week reported its first case of MPOX this year, although the country’s health minister Note that this is a mild Clade 2 variant. According to Reuters, there have been 10 laboratory-confirmed cases in the country since July 2022.

The Malaysian Ministry of Health said travelers arriving from countries where MPOX cases have been reported must monitor their health for 21 days after arriving in Malaysia.

It is recommended that those with a “history of dangerous activities” and symptoms of acne go to a medical institution for examination. Malaysia has not yet reported cases of the Clade 1b variant.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral infection It is spread through close contact and can cause flu-like symptoms and pus-containing lesions. Although usually mild, it can be fatal.