As reported by the State News Agency Antara, Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism and the Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, is urging all the relevant authorities at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport to be very diligent in protecting Bali and the rest of Indonesia from the growing global threat of Mpox (Monkey Pox) transmission.
Speaking in Bali on Friday, 30 August 2024, Sandiaga said, ” Vigilance should be increased, based on the President’s direction and in line with the Indonesia-Africa Forum, which will be held this weekend.”
The Indonesian-Africa Forum is September 1-3, 2024.
Among the preventive health measures being implemented is requiring passengers arriving at Bali’s airport to complete electronic health declarations (e-HAC) that will help track visitors and any developing health scenarios during an Indonesian visit.
Indonesia last used the e-HAC medical tracking system during the COVID-19 epidemic.
During the current Mpos Health Alert, Indonesia focuses on screening at three air gateways: Bali, Riau Island, and Jakarta. Incoming passengers undergo thermal scanning and are sent to separate screening channels if elevated body temperatures are detected.
Meanwhile, tourism officials hope that the continuing development of the Monkey Pox Epidemic will not negatively impact Indonesian tourism arrivals, which are targeted at 14 million foreigners for all of 2024.
Monitored closely, immigration and tourism officials have yet to see a downturn in tourist arrivals that can be linked to the Global Monkey Pox outbreak.
Bali’s airport has installed three thermal scanners to quickly and efficiently screen passengers arriving on flights from countries at risk of spreading the current contagion.
MPOX BACKGROUND
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 23 July 2022. This emergency status was later revoked on 11 May 2023.
Despite the lifting of the Public Health Emergency, cases of Mpox continue to be detected, with increased reported in 16 countries, one of which is the Republic of the Congo.
Because of the growing number of cases in Africa, the WHO re-established the PHEIC status for Mpox on 14 August 2024.
WHO says the symptoms connected with Mpox are usually mild, lasting only 2-4 weeks. When severe symptoms manifest, they can lead to death, with an overall mortality rate for the disease of between three to six percent.
Indonesia has detected 88 cases of Mpox from 20 August 2022 to 15 August 2024 in Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, and the Riau Islands Provinces.
Related Links
WHO Link on Monkey Pox – Key Facts and Overview
Center for Disease Control (CDC) Background on Monkey Pox
RI Confirms First Case of Monkey Pox
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