Beginning on August 23rd, Singapore is implementing temperature checks and visual screenings at both Changi and Seletar airports as a safeguard against mpox, which originates from other countries. This announcement came from a collective statement by the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Transport, and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, aiming to strengthen the nation’s defense against this viral disease at entry points.
Similar procedures will be extended to sea checkpoints, targeting crew and passengers sailing in from regions affected by mpox. Although Singapore does not have direct airline connections with mpox-affected territories, precautionary screenings will be enforced for individuals flying in from locations with reported outbreaks.
Air entry points have posted health advisories guiding travelers on protective measures against mpox infection. Complying with these guidelines is urged, particularly for those journeying to or from impacted areas. Travelers displaying signs such as fever, rashes, or other mpox symptoms will undergo medical evaluations.
As of August 22, Singapore has recorded 13 mpox cases for the year, all belonging to the less dangerous clade II variant. To date, no clade I cases of mpox have been detected in the nation. The MOH keeps a vigilant eye on the international mpox occurrences, which remain mostly restricted to Africa, with a few clade I cases reported in Sweden and Thailand, though there is no indication of local transmission in those countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) elevated mpox to a global health emergency status on August 14 for the second time in as many years. With no reported clade I cases outside Africa, the immediate threat to Singapore is considered low, per MOH’s previous statements. Infectious disease experts concur that quarantine is unnecessary for asymptomatic individuals traveling from or returning to Singapore.
Over 27,000 cases and roughly 1,300 deaths have been logged since January 2023 amid the ongoing Democratic Republic of Congo outbreak, disproportionately affecting children below 15 years. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern over the evolving mpox strain and its spread across neighboring countries.
Singapore’s Health Minister, Mr. Ong Ye Kung, echoed Dr. Tedros on August 17, presaging the likely spread of mpox to the Middle East and Europe—regions with flight connections to Singapore. He emphasized the importance of staying vigilant and responding adequately upon the virus’s arrival in Singapore.
Singapore’s proactive measures for dealing with mpox, such as mandatory symptom reporting on the SG Arrival Card and notification of all suspected cases to MOH by medical practitioners, remain in effect. Those suspected of mpox are isolated and tested, with contact tracing employed to prevent further community spread. Vaccinations are offered to high-risk individuals and close contacts, though mass vaccination is not currently advised.
Travelers are reminded to maintain their hygiene, avoid contact with lesions from infected individuals or animals, and refrain from high-risk sexual activities and encounters with wild animals or bushmeat. Those returning from mpox-impacted regions should seek medical help if they experience fever or rashes within 21 days and communicate their travel history to healthcare providers.
