Vietnam to monitor entrants from countries with monkeypox

Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, China and Japan are some of the countries where monkeypox has been detected.

Per the latest decision, foreign entrants from countries with monkeypox will have their body temperatures checked and be subject to other monitoring measures. Those suspected to be infected with the condition will be isolated and have their biological samples taken for testing.

The ministry is yet to issue specific instructions on how foreign entrants from countries with monkeypox should be monitored, or when exactly these measures are to be applied. Vietnam has not recorded any monkeypox cases so far.

Last week, Ho Chi Minh City proposed that foreign entrants are asked to complete medical declarations at the border as one of the anti-monkeypox measures.

Nguyen Van Kinh, former director of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, said he believed health facilities are likely to be among the first places where monkeypox cases would be detected, instead of airports, as had happened with Covid-19. Those with the highest risk of infection include direct caretakers of patients and lab workers involved in the testing of biological samples for monkeypox.

Besides screening measures at the border, the health ministry has also requested monitoring at different health facilities and added vigilance at certain events in the community.

As of July 30, the WHO has recorded over 21,000 monkeypox cases in 78 countries and territories. Seven people have died. Typical symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, muscle pain, skin lesions and rashes. It is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids or lesion material.