Update on the monkeypox outbreak in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Cairo, 17 August 2022 – The spread of the monkeypox outbreak has been sporadic in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, with 33 laboratory-confirmed cases in 6 countries and no associated deaths reported. Most cases have no travel history to areas where the outbreak is heavily circulating. The average age among reported cases are people aged 31 years, but age ranges from 8 to 59. An 8-year-old child in Lebanon was among the reported cases.    “The monkeypox outbreak is not exclusive to a group of people, and anyone can get the disease if they are in close skin-to-skin contact with someone who has symptoms, or through touching infected objects,” said Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. “Everyone of us is at risk. So even if we have only a few cases in our Region, let’s take the risk seriously and take the steps needed to stop transmission and protect people, especially vulnerable groups.” The response to the monkeypox outbreak entails a comprehensive approach that engages and protects affected communities, intensifies surveillance and public health measures, strengthens clinical management and infection prevention and control in hospitals and clinics, and accelerates research into the effectiveness of vaccines, therapeutics, and other tools. WHO’s Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean is supporting Member States and partners in all these areas, with a special focus on targeting vulnerable groups.  &...
Source: WHO EMRO News - Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news