Malaysia rolls out measures against mpox

Staff members monitor passengers’ body temperature at the Terminal 1 of Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Aug. 28, 2024. Malaysia has rolled out measures aimed at combating the spread of monkeypox including thermal scanners at international entry points such as airports, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said on Wednesday. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua)
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) — Malaysia has rolled out measures aimed at combating the spread of monkeypox including thermal scanners at international entry points such as airports, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said on Wednesday.
At a press briefing at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Dzulkefly said static and mobile thermal scanners have been activated to screen passengers, with four such scanners being placed at the airport’s Terminal 1.
He added that all 34 suspicious cases so far have been confirmed as negative, including 33 Malaysians and one Thai national, with a total of 3.2 million people having been screened since Aug. 16.
A total of nine cases were reported in Malaysia last year. No new cases were reported this year.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the disease a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on Aug. 14 following an outbreak in parts of Africa. ■

A staff member operates a thermal scanner to check passengers’ body temperature at the Terminal 1 of Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Aug. 28, 2024.
Malaysia has rolled out measures aimed at combating the spread of monkeypox including thermal scanners at international entry points such as airports, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said on Wednesday. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua)

Thermal scanners are installed to check passengers’ body temperature at the Terminal 1 of Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Aug. 28, 2024.
Malaysia has rolled out measures aimed at combating the spread of monkeypox including thermal scanners at international entry points such as airports, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said on Wednesday. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua)

Video messages for monkeypox prevention are played at the Terminal 1 of Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Aug. 28, 2024.
Malaysia has rolled out measures aimed at combating the spread of monkeypox including thermal scanners at international entry points such as airports, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said on Wednesday. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua)