Singapore tightens entry regulations to prevent yellow fever
The Singaporean Ministry of Health is considering adjustments to the Infectious Disease Act’s articles, especially those on denied entry to the country to prevent yellow fever virus.
Yellow fever vaccination for citizens in Sao Paulo, Brazil (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Singapore (VNA) – The Singaporean Ministry of Health is considering adjustmentsto the Infectious Disease Act’s articles, especially those on denied entry tothe country to prevent yellow fever virus.
The Southeast Asian country has listed Congo, Ethiopia, Paraguay, Brazil,Argentina and Peru among 42 African and South American countries in the endemicareas of the yellow fever virus.
Accordingly, all passengers, comprising children from one year old, from thosenations, or international tourists once residing and transiting through the 42countries for more than 12 hours in the latest six days, have to show up proofof yellow fever vaccination, or else they will be denied entering the country.
The ministry said that although there are yet no reported cases of yellow feverin Singapore, any importation of the disease to the nation will make it soonbecome an epidemic there due to the presence of Aedes mosquito vector.
Yellow fever is a mosquito borne acute viral haemorrhagic disease caused by theyellow fever virus. It is transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedes aegyptimosquito.
The disease, which is popular in African and South Americancountries, is characterised by high fever, nausea and jaundice. It can becomemore serious, causing heart, liver and kidney problems along with bleeding. Upto 50 percent of people with more-severe form of the fever die.-VNA
The Preventive Medicine Department said it will increase the monitoring of those who return from African and Latin American countries, where yellow fever outbreaks are occurring.
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Yellow fever vaccination for citizens in Sao Paulo, Brazil (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
