◎ On August 19, the Venezuelan government announced the implementation of quarantine measures against Mpox, including mandatory health declarations upon entry.
1. On August 14, the Venezuelan government announced the implementation of quarantine measures for Mpox through a communiqué on August 19, following the WHO’s declaration that the spread of Mpox constitutes a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).” The main points of these measures are as follows:
(1) Travelers from countries where an outbreak has been confirmed must fill out a quarantine card with their health status and personal information upon entry at ports and airports to promptly detect suspected cases.
(2) Suspected cases will be immediately isolated. Isolation will continue until a negative result is confirmed, or in the case of a positive result, until symptoms disappear.
(3) Contact tracing will be conducted for those in contact with infected individuals, and testing will be performed for close contacts.
2. About Mpox
(1) Overview
Mpox is an acute rash disease caused by infection with the Mpox virus, mainly occurring in Central to Western Africa. According to the WHO, cases of Clade 1 of the Mpox virus, which may be more severe and contagious than the Mpox virus that caused the global outbreak in 2022, have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, the Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic.
(2) Symptoms
The incubation period is 5 to 21 days (usually 6 to 13 days), with a reported fatality rate of a few percent to 10%. Symptoms include rash, fever, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, anal-rectal pain, and other skin and mucous membrane lesions. The characteristic rash appears on the face and limbs 1 to 3 days after fever onset and may also appear in the mouth, genitals, and eyes. Clinically, differentiation from smallpox is important.
(3) Prevention
In areas where Mpox is prevalent, take the following infection prevention measures and consult a doctor immediately if infection is suspected.
● Avoid contact with droplets and body fluids of symptomatic individuals.
● Avoid contact with rodents and other mammals (including dead ones) that may carry the Mpox virus, and refrain from eating or handling wild game meat (bushmeat).
● Practice hand hygiene using soap and water or alcohol-based disinfectants.
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