BAGAN SERAI: The government will step up monitoring for monkeypox at all international gateways into Malaysia, including the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), to prevent the spread of the disease in the country.

       Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali said the Health Ministry's Disease Control Division had been asked to identify and collect samples of those entering the country with symptoms of the disease.

       "Screening tests, including temperature checks, will be conducted for passengers from countries exposed to the virus," he told reporters at the handing over of the My Komuniti Perikanan Fisheries Transformation Centre (FTC) at Kampung Tepi Kolam Bukit Merah here on Thursday (May 26).

       He said there been no monkeypox cases recorded in the country so far, but advised those having fever and rashes to seek immediate treatment at health clinics.

       The monkeypox virus has emerged in several countries including Canada, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, France, Italy, the United States, Switzerland and Austria.

       The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed over 100 positive cases of the virus reported worldwide. – Bernama