There Are 11 Cases Of Monkeypox In Singapore, Batam KKP Increases Surveillance

Meeting to increase awareness of monkeypox in Batam City. (ANTARA/Jessica)

BATAM - The Batam Class I Port Health Office (KKP), Riau Islands, has increased surveillance at international entrances in Batam City in line with the findings of 11 cases of monkeypox in Singapore.

Head of Quarantine Control and Epidemiological Surveillance of Class I KKP Batam, dr. Romer Simanungkalit stated that he would monitor the body temperature and symptoms of migrants entering Batam City.

"It's the same as other cases. Because we also don't have a special tool to detect this monkeypox. We need to anticipate and increase surveillance because we are an entry point for foreigners," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, August 3.

Until now, his party together with the Health Office and the Batam Class I Center for Environmental Health and Disease Control Engineering (BTKLPP) will make a mechanism if monkeypox cases are found in Batam City, especially international ports.

Currently in Singapore there have been findings of 11 cases of monkeypox.

"We can't restrict people from entering and that's not allowed. What can be detected later is probable, because if the suspect is definitely not allowed to travel by the Singaporean authorities. Because they must be stricter," said dr. Romer.

Based on the technical instructions for handling cases of monkeypox, they will be quarantined for up to 21 days.

If there is a monkeypox case at an international port, the KKP will coordinate with the Batam Health Office, as well as referral hospitals, namely the Batam Management Agency (BP) Hospital and Embung Fatimah Hospital.