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Customs: These People Must Declare & Be Tested for Monkeypox Cases Upon Entry
According to the official "Customs Release" WeChat account, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared on August 14, 2024, that the monkeypox outbreak constitutes a "Public Health Emergency of International Concern" (PHEIC). Based on data from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention as of August 9, 2024, 13 African countries have reported 17,541 cases of monkeypox this year, with 517 deaths. Of these, the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone has reported 16,789 cases, with 511 deaths.
In order to prevent the monkeypox epidemic from entering China and to protect public health, the General Administration of Customs, in accordance with the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law of the People's Republic of China and its implementation regulations, has issued the following notice:
1. Mandatory Declaration: Individuals entering the countryfrom regions affected by the monkeypox outbreak must declare themselves to customs if they have had contact with monkeypox cases or if they exhibit symptoms such as fever, headache, back pain, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, rash, or mucosal lesions. Customs officers will implement medical measures and conduct sampling and testing according to the prescribed procedures.
2. Sanitary Handling of Contaminated Items: Any transportation vehicles, containers, goods, or items coming from monkeypox-affected countries (or regions) that are contaminated or suspected of being contaminated must undergo sanitary processing as per the required procedures.
This notice takes effect from the date of issuance and will remain in force for six months. During this period, any newly identified countries or regions with monkeypox outbreaks as announced by the WHO will be subject to the same regulations as outlined in this notice.
Second Highest Alert Issued in Three Years
On August 14, 2024, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that the monkeypox outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This is the highest level of alert issued by the WHO for global public health emergencies, aimed at mobilizing more international resources to combat the outbreak.
This marks the second time in three years that the WHO has issued the highest alert for a monkeypox outbreak.
What Is Monkeypox and Why the Highest Alert?
The WHO's issuance of a PHEIC indicates that a disease poses a serious threat to global public health. Dr. Wang Xinyu, Deputy Director of the Infectious Diseases Department at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, explained that this alert is intended to prompt governments worldwide to take urgent measures to control the spread of the disease. Such alerts usually suggest that a disease could rapidly spread across multiple countries, threatening the safety and health of the international community.
Monkeypox, previously a rare viral disease found mainly in Africa, has seen a rapid increase in cases globally in recent years, spreading beyond Africa to many other countries. Since 2022, monkeypox outbreaks in multiple countries have shown higher transmissibility and lethality. Due to the rapid spread and significant public health threat posed by monkeypox, the WHO ultimately decided to classify it as a PHEIC, the highest level of alert for global health emergencies.
Source: 海关发布, 新民晚报
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