Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
News (1)
The highest level of epidemic alert on mpox!
On 14 August 2024, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that the mpox (also monkeypox) epidemic constitutes an "international public health emergency". This is the second time that the WHO has issued the highest level of alert on the mpox epidemic since July 2022, which has attracted great attention from the international community.
WHO data show that the number of reported mpox cases this year has exceeded 15,600, which has exceeded the total number of cases last year, including 537 deaths.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the current monkeypox epidemic has the potential to spread further in Africa and to other continents, which is very worrying. According to data released by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 16 countries in Africa are currently affected by the mpox epidemic.
Currently, many countries have increased mpox alerts and strengthened health quarantine.
News (2)
Nigeria has reported 39 cases of mpox, airports, ports and entry points on high alert
The Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that 39 cases of monkeypox have been reported in the country, including Bayelsa State (5 cases), Cross River State (5 cases), Ogun State (4 cases), Lagos State (4 cases), Ondo State (3 cases) and Ebonyi State (3 cases).
In response, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health advisory to help stop the further spread of mpox.
The Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention also said that all public and private hospitals have been notified of the mpox alert and a reference list of referral isolation/treatment centers in the six geopolitical zones has been issued.
The Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention assured that Nigeria is not at significant risk of cross-border transmission of monkeypox and is coordinating response measures. All port health services at all five international airports, 10 seaports and 51 land/land crossing points are on high alert, and port health officers are on high alert and screening for suspected cases.
News (3)
Pakistan strictly prevents mpox, and flight attendants on international flights will wear masks
On 14 August 2024, the World Health Organization launched the highest international alert in the face of the African mpox epidemic. Recently, Sweden and Pakistan reported the first case of this round of mpox outside Africa. In this regard, the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan has issued a directive requiring airports across the country to take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of monkeypox virus, including strengthening coordination between health departments and local authorities, ensuring that ambulances are available at airports, calling for isolation facilities for suspected passengers, and regularly cleaning and disinfecting airport lounges.
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority also recommends that flight attendants on international flights wear masks and gloves, and thoroughly disinfect toilets, counters and all luggage of international passengers. At present, all airports and entry points in Pakistan have implemented monitoring and screening measures to monitor potential cases.
Since the beginning of 2022, 16 African countries have recorded about 40,000 patients infected with monkeypox virus, and more than 1,450 people have died. According to statistics from the health department, the number of cases this year has increased by 160%, and the World Health Organization has once again warned of the risk of transmission of the disease and allocated US$1.45 million in funds for emergency response.
News (4)
Mpox epidemic spreads faster, Thailand strengthens inspection of incoming passengers
The Department of Disease Control of the Ministry of Health of Thailand is closely monitoring the global mpox epidemic and is preparing to strengthen health inspection measures for passengers from mpox epidemic areas at each international infectious disease control checkpoint, especially the checkpoints of Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Muang Airport and U-Tapao International Airport.
Dr. Thongchai, director of the Department of Disease Control, said that mpox outbreaks have occurred in many countries in Central and East Africa, such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Congo, and the incidence of infection with the monkeypox Mpox clade 1b strain has been found to be high. From 2022 to 2024, a total of 14,250 patients have been found, of which 456 have died. In Thailand, 140 cases of monkeypox have been found since the beginning of this year, and the strain is Mpox clade 2, which is different from the strain in Africa. In any case, Thailand has taken measures to monitor various strains.
In response to this situation, the Ministry of Health has ordered the International Infectious Disease Control and Quarantine Department to strengthen strict health inspection measures for passengers from epidemic areas, including: 1. Check the disease control health declaration registration, and a contact address must be provided during the stay in Thailand; 2. Publicize the guide for passengers from high-risk areas (health attention monitoring) in four languages in Thai, English, French, and Spanish at the checkpoint, including a QR code for reporting their own symptoms; 3. Measure body temperature.
4. If a passenger is found to have a rash or symptoms consistent with mpox, he or she will be immediately isolated, and samples will be collected from the rash and throat and sent to the laboratory of the Disease Control Checkpoint at Suvarnabhumi Airport for confirmation using RT-PCR. The test results must be waited for 70 minutes in the isolation room; 5. If the laboratory test results confirm that it is mpox, the patient will be sent to the Bamrasnaradura Institute of Infectious Diseases for treatment; 6. If a passenger is found to have an obvious rash at the checkpoint or airport, he or she will be immediately sent to the Infectious Disease Control Station.
Deputy Director of the Department of Disease Control, Dr. Apichart, added that the Department of Disease Control and the Department of Medicine have been monitoring mpox strains in Thailand through random sampling, and the Mpox Clade1b strain prevalent in Africa has not been found so far.
News (5)
Egypt strengthens health quarantine at airports, seaports and land ports
The Egyptian Ministry of Health announced that the preparations of all health quarantine facilities at Egypt's airports, seaports and land ports have been upgraded.
In a statement on Thursday, the Egyptian Ministry of Health confirmed that necessary preventive measures were initiated at the country's entry points to avoid the spread of the infectious disease.
The Egyptian Ministry of Health added that quarantine departments have been put on high alert and are taking preventive measures. The Ministry of Health added that quarantine departments have been put on high alert and are taking preventive measures.
News (6)
Ethiopia Bole International Airport begins strict inspections
The Ethiopian Ministry of Health announced this week that "stronger than usual" health monitoring and inspection measures are being implemented at the country's border crossings and major international gateways in connection with the ongoing monkeypox outbreak in Africa.
The ministry said in a statement that strict health monitoring and screening measures are being implemented, with special emphasis on checkpoints in three regions of Ethiopia, namely Oromia, Somali and Southern Ethiopia.
The ministry said similar measures are also being implemented at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, which is the main international gateway for the East African country and a major transportation hub for African travelers.
The move comes a day after the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa a public health emergency as the number of cases in different countries in Africa surged.
The ministry announced that there are no suspected or confirmed cases of monkeypox in Ethiopia so far, and said a Public Health Disaster Coordination and Response Center has been established to facilitate prevention, monitoring and response measures at the national level.
The ministry noted that mpox is directly transmitted through human-to-human contact and therefore urged citizens to report immediately to the nearest health facility if they develop symptoms of the disease.
News (7)
Singapore releases latest preventive measures: Close contacts need to be quarantined for 21 days
Given the severity of the new virus, the Singapore Ministry of Health is on alert and closely monitoring the situation. Clinics and checkpoint authorities are watching for symptomatic patients and travelers.
The Ministry of Health has notified all medical practitioners and institutions to be vigilant, detect and report all cases of mpox, including suspected cases of type I infection.
The government requires all travelers to report symptoms related to monkeypox, such as fever or rash, and travel history through their entry cards. Suspected type I cases will be isolated and treated in hospital.
People who have close contact with confirmed cases will be isolated and monitored for up to 21 days from the date of last contact.
In addition, the Ministry of Health also strongly urges the public to remain vigilant and take the following precautions to protect themselves and their families:
Maintain good personal hygiene and wash your hands regularly with soap. If water is not available, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid contact with people who are unwell, especially those with rashes or lesions.
Do not share items that may be contaminated with body fluids.
Practice safe sex and avoid high-risk behaviour such as multiple sexual partners or casual sex.
When traveling, avoid contact with stray animals or wild animals, and do not eat meat from the bush.
Travelers from countries affected by monkeypox should monitor symptoms within 21 days of returning.
If symptoms such as fever, swollen lymph nodes or rash occur, please seek medical attention immediately and inform your doctor of your travel or contact history.
News (8)
Multi-party efforts to prevent mpox from entering Mainland China
The General Administration of Customs also recently issued an announcement on preventing the spread of monkeypox to my country, reminding people from countries (regions) where monkeypox outbreaks occur that if they have been in contact with mpox cases or have symptoms such as fever, headache, back pain, myalgia, etc., they should actively report to the customs when entering the country.
"Monkeypox is a zoonosis caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. The monkeypox virus is mainly transmitted through close contact, especially sexual contact. The risk of transmission through daily contact is relatively low. From September 20, 2023, my country will include monkeypox in the management of Class B infectious diseases." Relevant experts from the Health Emergency Center of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters.
According to the expert, mpox is a self-limiting disease. Symptoms in the early stage may include fever, headache and swollen lymph nodes. It often goes through several stages, including macules, papules, blisters, pustules, scabs and scab shedding, accompanied by obvious itching and pain. It can affect the oral and pharyngeal mucosa, genitals, conjunctiva and cornea.
Capital International Airport and Daxing International Airport, known as Beijing's "dual hub" airports, regularly have flights from Kenya, Burundi, South Africa, Ethiopia and other African countries to transfer or fly directly to the airport.
The reporter saw in the international arrival area of Terminal 3 of Capital International Airport on 17 August 2024 that after the passengers walked out of the plane and entered the terminal, the blue sign with the customs logo "Please accept health quarantine ahead" was clearly visible.
The announcement issued by the General Administration of Customs shows that according to the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law and its implementing rules and other laws and regulations, within 6 months from 15 August 2024, people from countries (regions) where mpox outbreaks occur, if they have been in contact with monkeypox cases or have symptoms such as fever, headache, back pain, myalgia, swollen lymph nodes, rash and mucosal rash, should actively report to the customs upon entry, and customs personnel will take medical measures and conduct sampling and testing in accordance with the prescribed procedures; transportation vehicles, containers, goods and articles from countries (regions) where monkeypox outbreaks occur and are contaminated or may be contaminated should be sanitized in accordance with the prescribed procedures.
The "Monkeypox Prevention and Control Plan" issued by the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Health Commission pointed out that local health and disease control departments should strengthen close cooperation and information sharing with customs and other relevant departments, promptly discover and deal with monkeypox outbreaks, implement monkeypox case discovery, epidemic reporting, diagnosis and treatment isolation, close contact tracking and management, and prevent the spread and spread of the epidemic.
"Based on previous clinical situations, most monkeypox cases are mild or common and can heal on their own. Current treatment mainly focuses on protective isolation and symptomatic treatment." Li Dongzeng, chief physician of the Comprehensive Infection Department of Beijing You'an Hospital, said that if you find that you have a history of contact with monkeypox, or have the above-mentioned corresponding symptoms, you should seek medical attention in time and inform the attending doctor of your contact history and exposure history.
See also: https://expose-news.com/2024/08/20/revisiting-the-last-time-tedros-the-terrorist-declared-mpox/; https://expose-news.com/2024/08/20/pandemics-and-vaccine-agenda-they-are-programming-the-public-to-accept-a-genocide-of-global-proportions/
No comments:
Post a Comment