13 people ordered to monitor their health after traveler with monkeypox transited through Singapore, Singapore News

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SINGAPORE — A traveler from Barcelona, ​​who transited through Changi Airport on June 2, tested positive for monkeypox after arriving in Sydney the next day.

The Department of Health (MOH) said on Monday June 6 that it was briefed on the development on Saturday by its counterpart in New South Wales.

Monkeypox is an infectious disease usually transmitted to humans by animals and is on the increase worldwide. No local cases have been detected here this year.

The confirmed case left Barcelona on June 1 and arrived at Changi Airport on June 2.

He remained in the transit holding area until his departure for Sydney the same day and did not visit other areas of the airport, the Department of Health said.

He added that as the person has not entered Singapore or interacted with other members of the community, there is currently no significant risk of community transmission.

“However, as a precautionary measure, we have carried out contact tracing for the two affected flights and those who may have come into contact with the traveler in the airport transit area,” he said.

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There were no close contacts assessed, and therefore no quarantine requirements, the health ministry added.

Thirteen people likely to have had occasional contact with the traveler were placed under telephone surveillance for 21 days. They will receive daily calls to check on their health status until the end of the monitoring period.

If they report symptoms suggestive of monkeypox infection, they will be medically assessed and may be referred to the National Center for Infectious Diseases for further evaluation, the health ministry said.

This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.

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