The Ministry of Public Health released a statement on May 22 which said that it has taken a full range of public health measures to early detect any suspected cases if they appear in order to contain any possible spread of the virus, as well as the ministry of public health's control of the global and regional epidemiological situation and to take all necessary precautionary measures.

The ministry has directed health-care professionals in both the public and private sectors to monitor potential patients who may develop monkeypox symptoms and to report any suspected cases to health authorities as the health-care sector is fully prepared to manage any suspected or confirmed cases. This follows the detection of monkeypox cases in at least 12 countries since may 13, but the virus has not spread in those countries.

Monkeypox is a viral infection that occurs mainly in tropical rainforest areas in central and west africa and may sometimes spread to other regions. monkeypox virus was first detected in 1958 and africa's first human case was reported in 1970, not the first time the virus has spread outside africa. people with monkeypox usually have symptoms including fever, smallpox-like rashes, enlarged lymph nodes and other health complications.

Monkeypox is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal, or with a substance contaminated with the virus, but less prevalent than other infectious diseases including covid-19 and seasonal influenza.

People are unlikely to develop monkeypox unless they have recently travelled to central or west africa or have been in physical contact with someone with monkeypox, the ministry said.

Source: Ministry of Public Health
Cover image credit: Shutterstock

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Tracy Quirino

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