Bali increases screening at airport amid monkeypox outbreak in Jakarta

Arriving at Bali’s main airport will look a little different for travellers with new precautions in place after a recent spike in monkeypox.

The Indonesian capital of Jakarta is currently experiencing a rise in cases of mpox

Travellers to Bali are being warned about an outbreak of mpox (monkeypox) with extra screening measures to be enforced at the airport.

The Indonesian capital of Jakarta is currently experiencing a rise in cases and Bali is being proactive in efforts to prevent its spread to the popular destination.

As such, passengers and airline crews will have to undergo screening measures at Bali’s main airport when they arrive on the island.

This applies to both domestic and international travellers. Thermal imaging cameras will be used to detect raised temperatures.

Monkeypox, which was renamed to mpox last year, is a viral illness that causes a painful rash and enlarged lymph nodes, with a fever, or rising body temperature one of the earliest symptoms.

Most people fully recover, but some get very sick, according to the World Health Organisation.

It can be transmitted through physical contact with the infected bodily fluids, scabs, or blisters.

A high fever is also a symptom of Nipah virus, which airport officials are also on high alert for.

Bali’s airport is increasing screening measures amid mpox outbreak in Jakarta.

Handy Heyudhitiawan, the general manager at Bali’s main airport, Ngurah Rai Airport, said it is increasing awareness of the disease by continuing to co-ordinate with the Port Health Office (KKP).

“We are co-ordinating with the KKP in arranging the necessary procedures and monitoring methods,” he told reporters. according to The Bali Sun.

“We ensure that this preventive measure aims to maintain the safety and comfort of service users at the airport, as well as preventing the spread of mpox to the Bali region.”

According to the publication, predictions from the Director General of Disease Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Health, Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, suggest that around 3,600 people in Indonesia could be affected by this outbreak of mpox.

He confirmed contact tracing efforts are underway in Jakarta to help ensure public safety during the outbreak.

Symptoms include a skin rash which can last two to four weeks, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain and low energy.

Officials believe around 3,600 people in Indonesia could be affected.

Mr Rondonuwu, however, assured the public that while mpox is a serious virus, “this variant is not too serious, the death rate is also low”.

Meanwhile, Bali is also taking precautions for travellers after deadly Nipah virus outbreak in India.

The current outbreak of the Nipah virus occurred in Kerala, southern India, and led to two deaths.

Bali is also taking precautions for travellers after deadly Nipah virus outbreak in India. Picture: Supplied

The Nipah virus is transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected bats, pigs, or other human beings.

The virus is carried by bats and has a high mortality rate with no known treatment or vaccine, with the World Health Organisation estimating a 40 to 75 per cent fatality rate.

Symptoms of Nipah virus include fever, respiratory distress, headaches, sore throat, and vomiting.

Indian tourists are the second-largest group of foreign visitors to Bali, with around 280,000 visiting from January to August.

The Nipah virus has not been identified in Indonesia, but its four to 14-day incubation period poses a concern to health officials.

Bali has now formed a team of specialists including neurologists and surgeons in preparation for any detected cases.

The Nipah virus is transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected bats, pigs, or other human beings.

The virus was first identified in 1999 during an outbreak in Malaysia and Singapore, which resulted in nearly 300 human cases and over 100 deaths, leading to the culling of more than one million pigs to control the outbreak.

The World Health Organisation has not reported new cases of the Nipah virus in Kerala since September 15.