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Indonesia on alert for monkeypox
Indonesia's Health Ministry has intensified efforts to prevent the spread of monkeypox after Singapore reported its first case of the rare virus recently.
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Batam Health Agency Didi Kusumajadi (left) on Monday visited the Batam Free Trade Zone Hospital to inspect the isolation and emergency rooms, following findings of rare monkeypox case in neighboring Singapore over the weekend. (JP/Fadli)
T
he government, particularly the Health Ministry, has intensified efforts to prevent the spread of monkeypox after Singapore reported its first case of the rare virus recently.
“The Health Ministry has been anticipating the potential spread [of the monkeypox virus] since last week by strengthening its prevention and detection systems at various entry gates to Indonesia,” said the ministry’s disease control and prevention director general, Anung Sugihantono, on Monday.
He added that tight inspection of visitors from Nigeria and Singapore had been carried out to further prevent the virus spreading.
Singapore reported over the weekend that it had identified a case of monkeypox that might have been brought in by a Nigerian man, who had allegedly contracted the virus by eating bushmeat at a wedding, AFP reported.
In response to the report, Batam, as the Indonesian region closest to Singapore, has initiated measures to prevent the potential spread of the rare virus.
Local authorities have readied two hospitals, namely the Batam Free Trade Zone Hospital and Embung Fatimah Public Hospital, as the main providers of special treatment for suspected monkeypox cases.
They have also set up thermal detectors in five international ports directly connecting the island and Singapore.
