For people from Mpox areas
China tightens its entry regulations
16.08.2024, 05:16
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The World Health Organization has declared a health emergency due to the spreading monkeypox. China is reacting by tightening its entry regulations. People coming from countries where monkeypox has broken out must register.
China plans to check people entering the country and goods imported for the spreading monkeypox virus (Mpox) over the next six months. This was announced by the Chinese customs administration. “People from countries where monkeypox has broken out, who have been in contact with monkeypox cases or who have symptoms should take the initiative and report to the customs authorities,” it said.
In China, vehicles, containers and goods from areas with Mpox cases are now to be disinfected, according to the customs administration. China’s National Health Commission announced last year that Mpox would be treated as a Category B infectious disease. This allows authorities to take emergency measures in the event of an outbreak of the disease. Category B infectious diseases currently also include COVID-19, AIDS and SARS.
On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the highest level of alert for the second time in two years due to the spread of the viral disease in Africa. According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, this is a health emergency of international concern.
The WHO had already declared an emergency due to Mpox in July 2022. At that time, there were cases in more than 60 countries, including Germany. The infections were due to clade II, which causes less severe disease. The emergency was lifted in May 2023 because the outbreaks in most countries had been brought under control with vaccines. In Africa and other countries in the Global South, however, there are problems with the supply of vaccines.