African travellers must register for health pass to combat mpox

In addition to decisions regarding which groups of individuals in the country should receive the mpox (monkeypox) vaccine, Thailand is stepping up its fight against the spread of mpox with new travel regulations aimed at passengers arriving from Africa.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and the Division of International Disease Control and Quarantine under the Ministry of Public Health jointly unveiled on August 23 new international guidelines to bolster Thailand’s surveillance against mpox. The initiative, driven by concerns over the rising mpox cases, aims to tighten control over passengers coming from high-risk regions.

This robust system is a product of collaboration among airline operators, Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited, the International Air Transport Association, Thai Airways Ground Customer Services Co., Ltd., and Phuket International Airport. Their collective effort focuses on establishing stringent screening measures for travellers from areas with elevated mpox infection rates, notably those in Africa.

CAAT and the Division have been vigilant since the mpox outbreak, conducting thorough risk assessments and implementing situation-based controls. Their findings have shown that high-infection regions for mpox overlap with areas affected by Yellow Fever in Africa, prompting heightened surveillance of passengers arriving on direct flights from these locations.

To enhance their containment strategy, officials now require airlines to ensure that passengers from these risk zones register with the Thai Health Pass system before entering the country. This system meticulously logs entry and exit details, providing a crucial tool for tracing and managing potential cases. For those who haven’t registered before departure, the system allows for on-the-spot registration upon arrival at Thai airports.

In preparation, a comprehensive rehearsal was conducted at Suvarnabhumi and Phuket airports on August 22 to ensure all airlines were informed and ready to implement these measures immediately. The decision follows a recent incident where a European man, who travelled from an African nation, arrived in Thailand on August 22, underscoring the urgency of these precautions. The situation will be closely monitored, with measures adjusted as necessary, reported KhaoSod English.