Australians travelling to Bali must complete a new health form amid concerns about the spread of Mpox in Indonesia.
Travelers must complete an electronic self-declaration form, the SatuSehat Health Pass, to enter the country.
The Indonesian government introduced the measure to contain the spread of the contagious virus, just weeks after declaring a public health emergency.
“All passengers and flight crew traveling from abroad are required to complete this health pass. By stating your health status and travel history, you contribute to safer travel in Indonesia,” the health pass website states.
Maria Kristi Endah Murni, Indonesia’s Director General of Civil Aviation, said the rule applies to all foreign travelers, including flight crew.
“Every foreign traveler flying to Indonesia must complete an electronic self-declaration form, the SatuSehat Health Pass, as a guideline for international airport operators to prevent and tackle the transmission of the measles virus at airports,” they said, according to Indonesian news agency Antara.
The declaration form must be completed online before passengers check in for their flight.
Travelers reportedly receive a barcode with their health and travel history, which Indonesian authorities scan upon arrival.
Australians travelling to Bali should remember to complete the health declaration form online before entering Indonesia
The Indonesian government introduced the measure to curb the spread of the contagious virus, just weeks after it was declared a public health emergency
If travelers show symptoms of Mpox, they may be referred to a hospital for treatment.
According to reports, biosecurity teams at Balinese airports have also installed thermal imaging cameras in the arrival hall to detect if passengers have a high temperature.
Travelers planning to visit Indonesia can complete the form via the app or online.
Indonesia is battling a recent spike in smallpox cases.
Additional tracing measures are being implemented as Indonesia reports 80 cases of Mpox in the past year
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (above) said recent developments around Mpox are “deeply worrying”
There have been more than 80 confirmed cases of Mpox in the Southeast Asian country over the past year.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox a public health emergency of international concern on August 14.
The new variant of Mpox is believed to have originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has evolved faster than scientists expected.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the emergence of a new subtype of Mpox and its rapid spread in the DRC is “deeply worrying”.
“It is clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives,” he said.
According to the ABC, more than 15,000 cases and 537 deaths have been recorded in the past year, with the virus mainly affecting children.
Mpox, formerly called monkeypox, has been a public health problem in parts of Africa since 1970.
However, the virus gained global attention when cases surged internationally in 2022, prompting the World Health Organization to declare a global health emergency that lasted 10 months.
Mpox can be transmitted through close contact with an infected animal or person and through contact with contaminated materials, such as clothing.
The virus can cause skin rashes and lesions, with flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat and headache.
Most people who contract Mpox recover within a month. However, it can cause serious illness for people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and young people.