PETALING JAYA: The MySejahtera application should be looked into as an added layer of monitoring when it comes to mpox, say health experts.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia public health medicine specialist Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh said it is important to find a way to monitor those who are returning home after travelling to countries with reported mpox cases.As mpox cases are trickier to track, she said MySejahtera could assist health authorities in finding out what places travellers have visited.
“I think downloading the app should be recommended not only to Malaysians but to tourists visiting the country with a travel history to countries with mpox cases.
“This is important as a lot of countries have confirmed cases of mpox, so we need a way to find out if those who might have travelled to the countries with confirmed outbreaks could have had contact with positive cases,” said Prof Sharifa Ezat when contacted yesterday.
MySejahtera was introduced in 2020 by the government to manage the Covid-19 outbreak. It was mainly used for tracing close contacts, self-reporting positive cases and applying for vaccination appointments.
The last reported case of mpox in Malaysia was in November last year, while the World Health Organization has declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). The Home Ministry is monitoring the country’s four main entry points to assist the Health Ministry in preventing the spread of mpox, previously known as monkeypox, in Malaysia.Prof Sharifa Ezat said it was important that if MySejahtera were to be used to monitor mpox cases, there should be a proper announcement.
Agreeing with her was public health expert Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar, who said the app must come under the purview of the Health Ministry’s Disease Control Division.
Following the global unpreparedness for the Covid-19 pandemic, Malaysia must continue with strict and real-time surveillance of the mpox virus, he said.
“We need to be prepared with a basic guideline of common global outbreaks such as mpox.
“There should be a regular simulation practice with healthcare personnel and frontliners on rapid response to outbreaks,” added Dr Zainal.
Universiti Putra Malaysia public health medicine expert Prof Dr Malina Osman called on the community to cooperate with authorities to self-declare if they have been exposed or are displaying mpox symptoms.
“I think self-reporting from those with possible exposure and risks would be adequate, without the need to impose a quarantine,” she said.
While Malaysia is preparing for the outbreak in accordance with international guidelines, Universiti Putra Malaysia consultant clinical microbiologist Prof Dr Zamberi Sekawi emphasised that community awareness is crucial as the disease is closely linked to high-risk behaviour such as intimate relationships. He said that there is no need to quarantine people, but monitoring can be done for up to 21 days, in line with international guidelines.
Prof Zamberi also said the country’s testing facilities are sufficient to monitor any mpox cases.
The incubation period of mpox is between three and 17 days, and symptoms start 5-21 days after infection. Common symptoms are fever, headache, sore throat, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes and rash with blisters on the face, hands, feet, body, eye, mouth or genitals.
The mpox virus is transmitted mainly through sex or skin-to-skin contact. Patients usually develop flu-like symptoms and skin lesions. The disease can be fatal, with four in 100 cases leading to death.
Meanwhile, the results for all 33 suspected cases of mpox in Malaysia have been confirmed as negative, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. The Health Minister said on X that one new suspected case is awaiting confirmation while the ministry has also released guidelines for overseas travellers.“MOH is coordinating with Malaysian embassies and missions across the world to disseminate the message so that Malaysian travellers worldwide will be able to adhere to these guidelines,” he said.
