Mpox alert: BMA enforces screening at all SA entry points

Michael Masiapato

Cape Town – The South African Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato has announced a (Mpox) Monkeypox outbreak preparedness plan in response to 13 confirmed cases by the National Department of Health.

Masiapato said that the BMA is screening travellers at all entry points into the country.

“At airports, the initial health declaration by the aircraft captain is followed by thermal screening,” he said.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Mpox is an illness caused by the monkeypox virus. It is a viral infection which can spread between people and occasionally from the environment to people via things and surfaces that have been touched by a person with mpox.

In settings where the monkeypox virus is present among some wild animals, it can also be transmitted from infected animals to people who have contact with them.

Masiapato said that travellers with elevated temperatures undergo further screening, including symptom interviews and observations by trained BMA Port Health officers.

“BMA Port Health officers are well trained to be vigilant to observe for any lesions and other symptoms during their operations at the ports. In any incident, should there be a case presented to the BMA that would need further referral to a health facility, arrangements have been made with ambulance services from the Department of Health for referral to healthcare facilities,” he said.

He added: “We are also in close collaboration with the communicable disease facilities in the districts in order to respond swiftly and ensure immediate reporting of any suspected traveller that meets the Mpox disease symptom profile.

“BMA port health officials have also elevated the focus to be on health education and awareness to travellers. At this stage there have been no incidents of Mpox suspicions detected in the ports of entry thus far.”

Masiapato said that travellers are advised to continue chronic medication and seek medical care if symptoms arise, especially if they have travelled to affected areas.

“We also encourage travellers suspecting any symptoms to seek medical care immediately especially those who have a travel history to areas with cases of Mpox,” he Masiapato.

According to a report by  AFP, in 2022, a global outbreak the strain of Mpox spread to more than 110 countries, mostly affecting gay and bisexual men. That was the clade II strain.

But there have been regular outbreaks of the clade I strain — which is 10 times deadlier — in Africa since it was first detected in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1970, the report said.

While the global outbreak was largely sexually transmitted, people in Africa normally caught clade I from infected animals, such as when eating bushmeat.

Mpox can cause a range of symptoms, from mild to severe, with higher risk for severe illness in pregnant individuals, children, and those immunocompromised, including untreated HIV patients.

The WHO indicates that common symptoms include a rash lasting 2-4 weeks, fever, headache, muscle aches, low energy, swollen lymph nodes, and sores that can appear on various parts of the body. Inflammation in the rectum or genitals can cause severe pain or urination difficulties.

Most cases resolve with supportive care, but severe cases can lead to complications such as widespread lesions, secondary infections, encephalitis, myocarditis, or pneumonia, potentially requiring hospitalisation and antiviral treatment.

According to available data, death rates range from 0.1% to 10%, varying by healthcare access and underlying conditions.

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu

Article written by