KUCHING: There has been no cases of monkeypox reported in Sarawak to date, the State Health Department said yesterday.
Its director, Dr Ooi Choo Huck assured that precautionary measures have been taken to prevent the spread of the monkeypox virus in Sarawak.
The measures include strengthening of health surveillance through all international points of entry according to guidelines and circulars from Malaysia’s Ministry of Health (KKM).
“This also includes monitoring of overseas travellers coming from all countries via inter-agency collaboration such as the Immigration Department and monitoring of signs and symptoms of monkeypox virus infection at all health facilities, including hospitals and health clinics in Sarawak,” he told New Sarawak Tribune.
Dr Ooi said should a case be detected, the health authorities must be notified urgently to prevent the spread of the virus. He stressed that early health education awareness regarding the monkeypox virus was essential for members of the public.
Monkeypox is a rare virus that is closely related to human smallpox, which was eradicated in 1980 and normally starts with flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, headache and achy muscles.
