China calls for overseas arrivals to be monitored for signs of monkeypox
- China CDC urges all cities to keep watch, especially if someone has been to a country where cases were reported in the previous 21 days
- The virus has yet to be found in China, but more than 1,800 infections have been recorded in non-endemic countries since early May
Monkeypox has yet to be reported in China, but cases are rising in Europe and the United States, and more than 1,800 infections have been recorded in non-endemic countries since early May.
In new guidelines on the virus, the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said all cities should keep watch for symptoms – particularly a rash – among inbound travellers, especially those who have been in a country where monkeypox cases were reported in the past 21 days. Other symptoms include fever and body aches.
Any suspected cases should be reported to disease prevention and control authorities and transferred to designated hospitals.
It comes after the General Administration of Customs last month said it would step up prevention and control efforts with other agencies in a bid to avoid a community outbreak of monkeypox.