UAE reports first case of monkeypox

UAE reports first case of monkeypox
May 25, 2022, 9:13 am

UAE-Dubai-Cityscape/Pixabay

The Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has confirmed the detection of the first case of monkeypox in the UAE.

The ministry revealed that the first case was detected in a 29-year-old woman who arrived from West Africa, noting that she is receiving the necessary medical care.

This comes in line with the UAE health authorities' policy on the early detection and monitoring of the disease.

MoHAP reassured community members that the UAE health authorities are taking all necessary measures, including investigation, examination of contacts, and monitoring their health.

An image created during an investigation into an outbreak of monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from 1996 to 1997, shows the arms and torso of a patient with skin lesions due to monkeypox. (CDC Handout via REUTERS)

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua agency, Paul Hunter, a British specialist in medical microbiology and communicable disease control, said: "Monkeypox is not a COVID situation and it will never be a COVID situation. It will be a problem, but it will be a problem that we will ultimately manage to control. I'm quite convinced."

British expert rules out new pandemic as monkeypox spreads to more countries

Hunter told Xinhua that "Ultimately, it's something we will be able to control before it becomes a really big issue. The reason for that is we have already have a pretty effective vaccine, the same vaccine we use with smallpox. And the really useful thing with this vaccine is that you can give it to somebody after they've been in contact with a case."

It should be noted that the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention called on members of the public to obtain information from official sources in the UAE, and to refrain from spreading rumours and false information.

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