KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry is closely monitoring the monkeypox outbreak that has affected countries in the European, African and American continent, as well as Australia in the Oceania region.
Its director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said apart from closely monitoring the progress of monkeypox cases based on reports from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the ministry will also carry out surveillance on suspected cases of the on the viral zoonosis at all the country's international entry points.
The nation's top health official assured the people that the Institute for Medical Research and the National Public Health Laboratory can carry out test to detect the virus which caused monkeypox among humans.
"The Veterinary Public Health Laboratory as well as laboratories under the Department of Wildlife and National Park Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan), meanwhile, can carry out laboratory test to detect orthopoxvirus in animals.
"The ministry is also working closely with the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis) and Perhilitan to monitor the development of the monkeypox situation among the wildlife, including those imported from the African and European continents," he said in a statement today.
Dr Noor Hisham also urged travellers arriving in the country from locations with cases of monkeypox and developing symptoms associated with the disease within three weeks after departing their previous locations to immediately seek treatment at the nearest health facility.
Apart from informing doctors on their travel history, travellers must also isolate themselves and avoid coming into close contact with other people for at least 21 days.
This is to allow the maculopapular rash that appears on the skin because of the orthopoxvirus to completely dry preventing the transmission of the virus.
"The public who developed symptoms associated with the monkeypox has also been advised to get immediate treatment.
"This is to enable isolation, tracing and quarantine of close contact could be carried out to prevent the spread of the virus," he said, adding that the ministry will update on the monkeypox situation from time to time.
The ministry, he said, would also advise travellers from Malaysia who wish to visit Central and West Africa as well as other nations with monkeypox cases to remain vigilant and take precautionary measures.
He said this includes maintaining high cleanliness, washing hands after a trip to the toilet, or when the hands are dirty; avoid direct physical contacts with wounds of those who had contracted the virus irrespective humans and animals as well as objects contaminated by fluid discharged from confirmed cases such as clothes; and avoid touching or consuming wild animals.
Meanwhile in India, the Indian government has raised the alerts to all airports in the country by screening inbound international travellers.
The Indian government issued instructions after 11 countries, including in the European, African, American continents as well as Australia, detected monkeypox cases.