Metro Manila, Philippines – Travelers entering the country would have to declare if they had rashes, blisters and vesicles amid the rise of mpox cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Thursday.
In a statement, the agency said this declaration will be part of the screening questions of the electronic travel form by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ). “Should a traveler answer yes when asked if they have been sick in the past 30 days, the drop down list will now include the option rashes, vesicles, or blisters. It is important for all travelers to be honest in answering this question,” the DOH said.The Bureau of Immigration will be alerted if a traveler comes from an outbreak area listed by the World Health Organization.Immigration will then refer the passenger to BOQ for secondary screening.“If upon the assessment of BOQ personnel, a traveler is determined to be a suspect case, they will be cared for and properly conducted to an mpox referral hospital,” the agency said.
The DOH said the measure seeks to prevent the entry of more mpox cases, especially the more aggressive Clade1B.
As of Aug. 28, the country has five active mpox cases.
The disease causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. Recent infections were of the milder clade II — the same variant behind all the 14 recorded cases in the country.
READ: Filipinos see another health emergency on mpox. Should we be worried?
