Chinese Customs Emergency Notice: Mpox Screening for Incoming Personnel and Goods

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Chinese Customs Emergency Notice: Mpox Screening for Incoming Personnel and Goods

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Chinese Customs Emergency Notice: Mpox Screening for Incoming Personnel and Goods

The General Administration of Customs of China has issued a statement announcing that, following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of Mpox as a global public health emergency, China will conduct Mpox virus monitoring on incoming personnel and goods over the next six months.

According to the statement released via the “Customs Release”, anyone arriving from regions where Mpox outbreaks have occurred, especially those who have been in contact with Mpox cases or exhibit symptoms such as fever, headache, back pain, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, rashes, or mucosal lesions, must proactively report to customs upon entry. Customs will then perform sampling and testing as per the procedures.

The statement further specifies that vehicles, containers, goods, and other items from Mpox-affected regions, if found to be contaminated or at risk of contamination, will undergo sanitation processing according to regulations.

It is important to note that in 2022, WHO changed the English name of the virus from “Monkeypox” to “Mpox.”

On August 14, the WHO declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern—the highest level of global epidemic alert under the International Health Regulations framework.

China’s National Health Commission had already classified Mpox as a Category B infectious disease in September last year, implementing appropriate prevention and control measures.

During outbreaks, officials have the authority to enforce emergency measures such as restrictions on gatherings, work and school suspensions, or lockdowns of specific areas.

Currently, other diseases categorized as Class B infectious diseases in China include COVID-19, AIDS, and SARS.

This marks the fourth time that Chinese customs have issued a Mpox screening policy, with the first announcement made in 2022, followed by two more last year.

A More Virulent Strain

Mpox is a viral zoonosis caused by the Mpox virus, originally discovered in tropical rainforests of Central and West Africa. The symptoms resemble smallpox, including fever, headache, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes.

Though Mpox has a relatively low mortality rate, its transmissibility and sudden outbreaks have drawn global attention.

In 2022, Mpox outbreaks occurred outside of Africa, leading to cases in multiple countries and heightened concerns about its spread and the need for control measures.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been reporting Mpox cases for over a decade, with a steady increase in reported cases each year.

Last year saw a significant rise in cases, and so far this year, over 14,000 cases have been reported, with 524 deaths.

Alarmingly, a large number of children have been infected with the virus!

In the DRC, over 70% of Mpox cases and 85% of total deaths are among children. Nearly 40% of these are children under five years old, including infants as young as two weeks old.

Dr. Tedros stated that the Mpox 1b virus variant emerged in the DRC last year and spread rapidly, primarily through sexual transmission. This variant has also been detected in neighboring countries, raising particular concern.

In the past month, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda—countries that had never previously reported Mpox cases—reported around 90 cases of the 1b variant.

He emphasized that what the world is facing is not just an outbreak of a single virus strain, but multiple outbreaks of different strains in various countries, each with different transmission modes and risk levels.

Genetic sequencing analyses indicate that the new variant has acquired mutations that make it easier to spread among humans.

Scientists have warned that Mpox primarily spreads through close physical contact, including intimate sexual contact, or by touching scabs, mucous membranes, or bodily fluids.

However, anyone who comes into contact with contaminated clothing, bedding, or other items, regardless of sexual orientation, is at risk of infection.

Potential Arrival in Canada

In Sweden, a tourist who had visited an African country affected by the outbreak was found to be infected with the 1b Mpox virus, indicating the potential for wider spread.

Canadian experts suggest that the rapidly spreading Mpox strain across multiple African countries could make its way to Canada, as this strain has never been detected in Canada before.

Dr. Fahad Razak, an internal medicine specialist and epidemiologist at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, stated, “It’s only a matter of time. Canada is a major global travel hub—one of the world’s most visited high-income countries. We should expect to see cases here.”

This year, Mpox cases have surged across Canada.

As of August 1, 2024, the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has recorded 225 confirmed Mpox cases since it began tracking the disease.

According to the BCCDC, since May 2022, cases have been reported in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Europe, and other countries. While Mpox outbreaks have occurred before, the current situation is unusual, with many countries simultaneously reporting numerous cases.

Mpox vaccines are available, but are generally only administered to high-risk individuals or those who have had close contact with infected persons. There is concern that there may not be enough funding to vaccinate everyone in need.

The WHO has recently called on pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide Mpox vaccines for emergency use, even if these vaccines have not yet received formal approval.

According to the latest announcement from the General Administration of Customs of China, individuals traveling from Canada to China will also be subject to Mpox screening.

Chinese Customs Emergency Notice: Mpox Screening for Incoming Personnel and Goods

(source:internet, reference only)

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