DOHA
The Ministry of Public Health on Thursday confirmed that the State of Qatar is free of any cases of monkeypox, thanks to an integrated and effective set of public health measures, including intensive monitoring for early detection of cases.
The ministry explained, in a statement, that the health sector is following these precautionary measures on an ongoing basis, noting that due to the development of the situation and the World Health Organization’s declaration of a public health emergency regarding the outbreak of monkeypox, precautionary measures have been tightened in the country.
The MoPH reiterated full readiness of the healthcare sector and its cadres in both the public and private sectors to deal with any suspected or confirmed cases of this virus, saying that the competent health authorities are continuously monitoring any possible developments in this regard, while taking the necessary precautionary measures in this regard, in addition to the Ministry of Public Health working with the competent authorities to ensure early detection of cases coming to the State of Qatar from the affected countries.
The ministry explained that it is unlikely that members of the community will be exposed to monkeypox unless they have recently traveled to endemic countries in some African countries, or have had close contact with a person infected with the disease, stressing that it will continue to monitor the global and regional epidemiological situation and take all necessary precautionary measures.
These enhanced public health measures come after the World Health Organization declared monkeypox a public health emergency, due to the rapid escalation of cases of the disease in the affected geographic areas of East and Central Africa.
It is worth noting that monkeypox virus was first discovered in 1958, and the first human case of infection was reported in Africa in 1970.
Monkeypox is a viral disease that is mainly found in tropical rainforest areas of central and western Africa, and sometimes reaches other areas where the disease is transmitted through close contact with an infected person or contact with an infected animal or material contaminated with the virus, and causes fever and rash, and its symptoms are similar to those of influenza and skin lesions.
Most cases of the disease are mild, but it can be severe for children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.