Botswana begins screening travellers for mpox at ports of entry!

The Government of Botswana has implemented surveillance checks for the mpox virus at its main trade ports of entry on 19 August 2024. These are the countries main airports, Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) in Gaborone and Maun Airport (MUB) in Maun, as well as the following land ports of entry: Kazungula One-stop Border Post (Zambia), Tlokweng/Kopfontein border post, Martin's Drift/Groblersbrug border post, Pioneer Gate/Skilpadshek border post (South Africa) and  Mamuno/Buitepos border post (Namibia).

The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced on 14 August 2024 that the upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a growing number of countries in Africa has been declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR). This is the second declaration in two years relating to mpox. In July 2022, the multi-country outbreak of mpox was declared a PHEIC as it spread rapidly via sexual contact across a range of countries where the virus had not been seen before. That PHEIC was declared over in May 2023 after there had been a sustained decline in global cases.

South Africa begins screening travellers for mpox at all ports of entry!

The South African Border Management Authority (BMA) has announced that it has put measures in place at all ports of entry due to the increase in mpox (monkeypox) cases in South Africa. According to the commissioner of the BMA, Dr Michael Masiapato, the BMA has activated an outbreak preparedness plan that outlines the response in dealing with the disease.
Travellers arriving in South Africa are now subjected to thermal screening for checking temperature at air, land and sea ports of entry. Should the traveller present with an elevated temperature, such traveller will be isolated and assisted with further screening. This will involve interviews to establish experiencing of other symptoms. The BMA Port health officer will also conduct their own general and non-invasive observation of the traveller under investigation.
The total number of laboratory-confirmed cases of mpox in South Africa stands at 16 since the outbreak of the disease in May 2024. Eight cases from KwaZulu-Natal, seven cases from Gauteng, and one from Western Cape. All cases are males, aged between 23-43 years old. 

Anyone can get MPOX! pic.twitter.com/oaJYO4QYWd

— The Border Management Authority SA (@TheBMA_SA) June 24, 2024