Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Ministry of Health has announced the implementation of the SATUSEHAT Health Pass at key entry points into Indonesia to prevent the potential spread of monkey pox (Mpox), particularly during the upcoming Indonesia Africa Forum (IAF) and High-Level Forum on Multi Stakeholder Partnership (HLF-MSP) in Bali.

Achmad Farchanny Tri Adryanto, Director of Health Surveillance and Quarantine at the Ministry, said on Thursday (29/8/2024) that travelers arriving at Soekarno-Hatta and Ngurah Rai Airports will undergo multi-layered screening, including health declaration checks via the SATUSEHAT Health Pass.

Travelers must complete the web-based health pass before departure, and upon arrival in Indonesia, they will be screened for symptoms using thermal scanners and visual observation, according to antaranews.com. 

Suspected cases will undergo Molecular Rapid Testing (TCM) at mini-labs set up at the airports. Emergency medical teams and facilities, including mini-ICUs, will be on standby at the IAF and HLF-MSP venues.

Mpox cases have been rising in Africa, where the more severe Clade 1 is prevalent. In contrast, Clade 2, which is milder, is found in Asia, including Indonesia. Although Indonesia reported 88 mpox cases from 2022 to August 2024, all patients have recovered.

Former WHO Southeast Asia Director of Infectious Diseases, Prof. Tjandra Yoga Aditama, noted that while mpox is a public health emergency, it is unlikely to escalate into a pandemic due to the lessons learned from COVID-19 and existing vaccines.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)