Health Ministry sets up thermal scanners at KLIA as a precaution against mpox

SEPANG: Thermal scanners have been activated at the country’s international entry points such as airports as the Health Ministry enhances precautions against mpox (monkeypox).

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said static and mobile thermal scanners have been activated to screen passengers arriving in Malaysia.

At the KLIA Terminal 1, there are four static thermal scanners.

“On entry, passengers will have to go through the mobile thermal scanners. If they are symptomatic, the thermal scanners will be able to pick that up,” he told reporters at KLIA Terminal 1 on Wednesday (Aug 28).

“We have also installed four static thermal scanners. There are Health Ministry staff working three shifts at the airport. If a person’s temperature is high, an alert and alarm will be generated,” he added.

Aside from that, Dzulkefly said suspected cases displaying symptoms will be taken to the airport operations centre for further examination and quarantine. He said suspected cases could be identified on the flight itself and will be attended to upon arrival.

“As soon as they arrive, they will be taken to the C22 airport operations centre. They will be examined further to identify the symptoms,” he added.

Dzulkefly mentioned that the ministry is also monitoring other infectious diseases such as jaundice.

He stated that all 34 suspicious cases so far have been confirmed as negative. Of these, 33 were Malaysians and one Thai national.

He added that about 3.2 million people have been screened since Aug 16.

“We haven’t seen a positive case so far,” he said.

Suspected cases will also be given a Health Alert Card.

“If they experience symptoms such as fever, they will be advised to seek medical treatment,” he said.

Dzulkefly added that on average about 150,000-160,000 passengers will be screened through the thermal scanners each day.

Fever, rashes, and blisters are among the symptoms of mpox.

A total of nine cases were reported in Malaysia last year. No new cases were reported this year.

The World Health Organization declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for the second time on Aug 14 following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighbouring African countries.

The first PHEIC was declared on July 23, 2022, and ended on May 11, 2023.

As of Aug 25, a total of 103,446 cases were reported globally.