Government Tightens International Travel Supervision To Prevent Mpox Spread

Illustration of Monkeypox (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - After holding a meeting with President Joko Widodo regarding the monkeypox or Mpox outbreak, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno announced that the government is now tightening supervision of international travel.

"Indonesia will increase vigilance and tighten supervision at Soekarno-Hatta Airport and I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali, to prevent the entry of monkeypox or Mpox disease into the country. We have held a limited meeting with President Joko Widodo this morning and decided to increase vigilance," said Sandiaga Uno, Tuesday.

The increase in supervision includes checking body temperature, physical examination, and filling out electronic health alert cards (e-HAC).

"Temperature and physical checks at the airport are carried out because thempox disease can be detected through high body temperature and physical symptoms, therefore we carry out these steps," he added.

Sandiaga stated that the e-HAC application implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic will be re-used. This is important, especially ahead of the 2nd Indonesia-Africa (IAF) Forum which will be held in Bali on September 1-3, 2024.

Although surveillance has been tightened, the government emphasizes that there is currently no prohibition or restriction on international travel.

"There is no prohibition or restriction on international travel that we are doing is increasing awareness of the Mpox disease," he concluded.