“The public is reminded that we have a greater menace in our midst that is still claiming lives, and that is dengue,” MMA president Dr Koh Kar Chai said.

This follows a monkeypox outbreak in West and Central Africa that has since spread to Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, the US and Australia.

While there have been more than 100 cases of monkeypox reported in Europe as of last week, there have been no cases recorded in Malaysia so far.

In comparison, there have been 14,725 dengue cases and nine dengue-related deaths recorded in Malaysia since the start of the year.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah previously said there was a low likelihood of monkeypox spreading in Malaysia unless individuals came into contact with infected animals or patients.

Travellers exhibiting symptoms within three weeks are advised to seek treatment and isolate themselves for at least 21 days.

“We hope the early action of all parties will prevent the entry of the monkeypox virus into Malaysia,” he said.

Monkeypox is usually a mild viral illness characterised by symptoms of fever as well as a distinctive bumpy rash. First identified in monkeys, the disease typically spreads through close contact and has rarely spread outside Africa.