China to monitor arrivals of people and goods for mpox virus

BEIJING - China will monitor people and goods entering the country for mpox for the next six months, a statement from its Customs administration said on Aug 16, after the World Health Organisation (WHO) said the virus was again a global health emergency.

“Personnel from countries with monkeypox outbreaks who have been in contact with monkeypox cases or display symptoms... should take the initiative to declare themselves to Customs,” it said.

The WHO changed the name of monkeypox to mpox to avoid the stigma linked to the original name.

Vehicles, containers and goods from areas with mpox cases should be sanitised, the statement added.

The WHO on Aug 14

declared mpox a global public health emergency

for a second time in two years, following an outbreak of the viral infection in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that had spread to neighbouring countries.

China’s National Health Commission in 2023 announced that mpox would be managed as a Category B infectious disease, enabling officials to take emergency measures such as restricting gatherings, suspending work and school, or sealing off areas when there is an outbreak of a disease.

Category B infectious diseases currently include Covid-19, Aids and severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Mpox can spread through close contact. Though usually mild, it is fatal in rare cases.

It causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body.
REUTERS