China tests monkeypox on foreign travelers

All travelers entering China from abroad must undergo monkeypox virus tests, in addition to tests for the COVID-19 virus, the official Diario del Pueblo reported today, which also cites a new disease prevention guide published by the National Health Commission.

The foundation called on various local authorities to conduct tests for monkeypox on foreign travelers, especially those whose travel history includes countries where cases of the disease were detected in the last 21 days before entering China.

Likewise, people who show symptoms such as rashes should be closely monitored, and any suspected case should be reported to disease prevention authorities for reference to ‘specialized medical institutions’.

Those who show symptoms should undergo etiological tests to rule out other causes of diseases, such as chickenpox, rubella, and measles.

The commission also obliges people who have been in contact with monkeypox patients to report to the authorities even if they do not show any symptoms.

At the moment, China has not reported any cases of the disease on its territory, which have been recorded in 50 countries since the beginning of the year, according to data from the World Health Organization.

Most of the 3,413 confirmed patients in 2022 were registered in Europe, with special cases in countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain.

In a statement issued yesterday, the WHO Regional Director for Europe, Hans-Henri B. Cluj, that nearly 90% of the cases detected globally since mid-May are concentrated on the continent, and that the infection has tripled in the past. Two weeks. / EFE