SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Thursday (Aug 22) issued an update on precautionary measures against mpox.
Here is the Health Ministry’s statement in full:
The Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Transport and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority will be putting in place precautionary measures to enhance our surveillance capabilities against mpox at our borders.
While thus far, there are no direct flights between Singapore and any mpox outbreak country, from 23 August 2024, we will put in place temperature and visual screening at Changi and Seletar airports for inbound travellers and crew arriving on flights from places which may be exposed to the risk of mpox outbreaks. Similar screening measures will also be implemented at sea checkpoints for crew and passengers arriving on ships from mpox affected areas.
Health advisories have been put in place at air checkpoints, so that travellers will take the necessary personal precautions to avoid being infected. Travellers are strongly advised to adhere to the advisory, especially if they are travelling to and from affected countries. Travellers who have fever, rash and/or symptoms compatible with mpox will be referred for medical assessment.
As of 22 August 2024, 13 confirmed cases of mpox have been detected this year, all of which are of the less severe Clade II infections. There have been no mpox Clade I cases detected in Singapore to date.
MOH is monitoring the global situation very closely. Thus far, the outbreak remains generally confined to Africa, with two cases of the more severe mpox Clade I reported in Sweden and Thailand. There are currently no reports of local spread in these two countries.
Suite of precautionary measures to detect and manage cases
The prevailing precautionary measures to detect and manage mpox cases remain unchanged. All travellers are required to report mpox-related symptoms (e.g. fever or rash) and travel history through the SG Arrival Card. Medical practitioners are to notify MOH of all suspect mpox cases. Suspect cases will be isolated in hospital, so that they can be further assessed and tested for mpox.
Contact tracing is conducted for all confirmed cases of mpox to limit community transmission. All identified contacts will be informed to monitor their health for symptoms of mpox and to seek medical advice if unwell. Close contacts will also be offered vaccination to reduce the risk of mpox infection.
The current vaccination approach focuses on persons at high risk of infection, such as close contacts of mpox cases. MOH is monitoring the situation closely and will adjust our vaccination strategy accordingly. For now, population-wide mpox vaccination is not recommended, given the current disease epidemiology.
Health advisory
We advise travellers, especially to countries affected by mpox, to take the necessary precautions. These include:
- Maintaining a high standard of personal hygiene;
- Avoiding direct contact with skin lesions of infected persons or animals;
- Avoiding high-risk activities such as having multiple sex partners or casual sex; and
- Avoiding contact with wild animals and consumption of bush meat.
Returning travellers, especially from countries affected by mpox, should seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms (e.g. fever or rash) within 21 days of their return. They should inform their doctor of their recent travel and exposure history.
Exercising personal responsibility, especially when symptomatic, and practising good personal hygiene remain effective at reducing the risk of transmission of mpox in the general population. The general precautionary measures that members of the public should take against mpox remain relevant for both Clade I and Clade II. Please refer to the MOH website for more information.
MOH will continue to monitor the situation closely and ensure that our preparedness and response measures are calibrated based on the prevailing public health risk.