The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) announced that the e-travel form now incorporates screening questions for mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, to prevent the virus’s entry into the country.
Travelers arriving from abroad will need to disclose if they have experienced ‘rashes, vesicles, or blisters’ in the past month. This measure aims to enhance efforts to curb the spread of mpox, particularly the clade Ib variant.
The DOH highlighted that a critical addition has been made to the Department of Health’s Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) screening questions in the e-travel form. Should a traveler indicate illness within the last 30 days, they must specify if they had ‘rashes, vesicles, or blisters.’ Travelers are urged to answer honestly to aid in disease prevention.
Clade Ib of the mpox virus, identified in the 1980s, has a mortality rate between 1% and 10%. Conversely, the MPXV clade II, mainly found in West Africa, has a lower mortality rate of less than 1% to 4%.
If a traveler arrives from a region with an mpox outbreak, has been exposed to mpox cases, or shows symptoms consistent with the disease, the e-travel system will alert immigration and health authorities. These travelers will undergo a second screening and may be transferred to an mpox referral hospital if deemed a suspected case.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mpox symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, and rashes on various parts of the body such as hands, feet, chest, face, mouth, or near the genitals. Symptoms generally appear 21 days post-exposure. The virus can spread through contact with contaminated objects and surfaces.
Recently, the DOH reported two new cases of mpox, increasing the total to 14 since July 2022. However, only five cases remain active, all involving the milder MPXV clade II. The latest cases include a 26-year-old female from Metro Manila and a 12-year-old male from Calabarzon, both of whom are in home isolation.
The inclusion of mpox screening questions in the Philippines’ e-travel form is a proactive step to bolster public health safety. The authorities urge all travelers to provide accurate information to help control the spread of the virus and protect the community.
Source: Globalnation.inquirer