Mpox Health Advisory

MPOX HEALTH ADVISORY FOR GENERAL PUBLIC

Members of the public are strongly advised to maintain vigilance and take the following precautions, where applicable:

• Observe and practise good personal hygiene at all times.
• Wash your hands regularly with soap, especially before handling food or eating, after going to the toilet, or when hands are dirty from coughing or sneezing. If water is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid contact with persons who are unwell (e.g. those with rash or other lesions).
• Avoid sharing common items that may be contaminated with bodily fluids.
• Practice safe sex, including avoiding high-risk sexual activities such as having multiple sex partners or engaging in casual sex.
• When travelling, avoid feeding or touching animals, especially stray or wild animals, and avoid consuming bush meat.
• Travellers from countries affected by mpox should monitor for symptoms for 21 days upon their return. Please refer to the MOH Travel Advisory for precautionary measures to be taken when travelling.
• Seek medical attention immediately if you become unwell or develop symptoms such as sudden onset of high fever, swollen lymph nodes and rash. Inform the doctor of your travel or exposure history.

MPOX HEALTH ADVISORY FOR TRAVELLERS

Travellers to affected countries are advised to adopt precautionary measures against mpox. Upon returning, travellers should seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms (e.g. fever or rash) within 21 days of their return. They should inform their doctor of their recent travel and exposure history.

The Ministry of Health advises all travellers visiting any country to be vigilant and to adopt the following precautions, where applicable:

Before Your Trip:

• Visit your doctor 4 – 6 weeks before your trip for a travel health risk assessment, including advice on necessary vaccinations required or prophylaxis recommended prior to travel.
• Please take note of our yellow fever vaccination requirement to enter Singapore if you will be travelling to a country at risk for yellow fever. For more details, refer to MOH website.
• Stay up-to-date with recommended vaccinations and boosters in the National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS) or National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS).
• Check the health situation and entry requirements of your destination country. Some countries may require proof of vaccination for diseases such as yellow fever, meningococcal, etc., before entry.

During Your Trip:

• Observe and practise good personal hygiene at all times.
• Wash your hands regularly with soap, especially before handling food or eating, after going to the toilet, or when hands are dirty from coughing or sneezing. If water is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid close contact and sharing common items with persons who are unwell or have symptoms of infectious diseases.
• Cover your mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and dispose of the tissue immediately. Avoid touching your face, including your eyes, nose and mouth, with unwashed hands after coughing or sneezing.
• Eat food that is fully cooked and wash fruits and vegetables before consumption. Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat and seafood, milk/milk products, and food prepared in unhygienic conditions.
• Drink boiled water or water from sealed bottles.
• Protect yourself from insect bites by using effective insect repellent (e.g. those containing DEET, Picaridin or IR3535 as the active ingredient), wearing long-sleeved clothes and long pants outdoors, and sleeping in an air-conditioned or insect-screened room, or under an insecticide-treated bed net.
• Avoid feeding or touching animals, especially stray or wild animals.
• Avoid high-risk sexual activities such as having multiple sex partners or engaging in casual sex.

After Your Trip:

• Wear a mask and seek medical attention promptly if you become unwell or develop respiratory symptoms such as cough or runny nose. Inform your doctor of your travel or exposure history.