Mpox alert in China: Entry and exit points to be monitored

Following the World Health Organization's (WHO) recognition of the spread of the mpox virus as a 'public health emergency of international concern,' new measures against a potential outbreak have come into effect in China.

The General Administration of Customs announced that entry and exit points will be monitored for a period of 6 months. It was reported that those entering the country will be subject to health screenings and that the belongings carried by passengers will also be checked. The statement indicated that vehicles, containers, and goods arriving from regions with mpox cases must also be disinfected.

In recent days, the WHO announced that the first mpox case in Europe had been detected in Sweden. WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge reported that Sweden had confirmed the first case of the mpox virus outside the African continent. Kluge stated, "Swedish health authorities have announced that the infected person had traveled to a region in Africa where an mpox outbreak is occurring."

Noting that the infected person is receiving treatment according to their symptoms, Kluge emphasized that public health measures, including isolation of the patient and contact tracing, have been taken. Kluge assessed, "Swedish health authorities emphasize that although the threat to the general public is low, caution should be exercised."

11 CASES HAD BEEN REPORTED IN PAKISTAN

On the other hand, it was reported that the mpox virus was detected in 3 people in Pakistan for the first time this year. Ministry of Health Spokesperson Sajid Shah stated in his announcement that these individuals showed mild symptoms of the viral infection, but that contact tracing was being carried out to prevent transmission. Shah said that the samples had been sent to the National Institutes of Health for confirmation.

Since April 2023, 11 mpox cases, one of which resulted in death, had been reported in Pakistan.