DOH Statement | 29 August 2024
To aid in preventing the entry of additional Mpox cases from abroad, particularly Clade Ib, there has been just one small yet significant change in the screening questions of the DOH Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) asked of travelers, as part of the electronic travel form. Should a traveler answer yes when asked if they have been sick in the past 30 days, the drop down list will now include the option “rashes, vesicles, or blisters.” It is important for all travelers to be honest in answering this question.
If by the electronic form, a traveler is determined to be from a country listed by WHO as an outbreak area, or they have a history of exposure to an mpox case, or they have any signs/symptoms, the etravel.gov.ph system will alert the DOJ Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the DOH Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ).
The passenger will be referred by BI to BOQ for secondary screening. If upon the assessment of BOQ personnel, a traveler is determined to be a suspect case, they will be cared for and properly conducted to an mpox referral hospital.
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