Jordan | Ministry of Health reassures Jordanians about monkeypox

Arab Weather - After recording many cases of monkeypox in the African continent, Dr. Raed Al-Shboul, Secretary-General of Primary Health Care and Epidemics at the Ministry of Health, confirmed that Jordan is completely free of this disease, and there is no cause for concern. Al-Shboul explained in a statement to the media on Friday that Jordan is far from the dangers of monkeypox, noting that the ministry has taken all necessary precautionary measures since the first case of monkeypox appeared about a year and a half ago.

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National plan to deal with monkeypox

In the same context, Dr. Mohammed Al-Hawarat, Director of Communicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health, confirmed that there is a coordinated national plan to deal with monkeypox, which was prepared in cooperation with all relevant authorities, including the National Center for Security and Crisis Management and the National Center for Epidemic and Communicable Disease Control. Al-Hawarat pointed out that each authority plays a specific role within this plan.

As for border crossings, the dialogues confirmed the existence of a pre-prepared plan for all diseases that have been contagious since the Corona pandemic period, as it is applied to any disease that may cause a global emergency to be declared. He explained that there are health centers and cadres at border crossings, in addition to a public health liaison officer, who deal with any suspected case according to the plan followed.

• Diagnosis and treatment of monkeypox

The dialogues explained that monkeypox is diagnosed through PCR tests in the central laboratories of the Ministry of Health, where a swab is taken from the blisters on the skin and examined in coordination with the Disease Control Department in the relevant directorate and with the health center at the crossing.

Al-Hawarat confirmed that at the present time there is no need to obtain vaccines against monkeypox in Jordan, but he indicated that the country is ready to purchase any vaccine if necessary.

What is monkeypox?

According to the Ministry of Health, monkeypox is a rare viral disease that is transmitted from animals to humans. It mainly affects animals such as monkeys, squirrels and rodents and is caused by a virus belonging to the Orthopoxvirus family. The disease is transmitted through direct contact with infected animals or contact with surfaces contaminated with animal secretions. It can be transmitted between humans through patient secretions or contact with contaminated surfaces. The method of transmission of the disease through respiratory droplets is considered rare.

Symptoms of the disease appear after an incubation period of 5-21 days, starting with non-specific symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle aches, then a rash develops that begins on the face and spreads to the trunk and extremities. The disease usually lasts from 2 to 4 weeks, and in most cases ends with complete recovery.

• Epidemiology of the disease

Monkeypox is rare and endemic in central and western Africa, especially in tropical areas. Epidemics are usually recorded in endemic areas sporadically. One case was recorded in Jordan on September 8, 2022, in a person in his thirties who had traveled to several countries, including Nigeria, and then no other cases have been recorded so far, according to the Ministry of Health.

See also:

WHO declares emergency over monkeypox

Monkeypox cases detected in Pakistan among people coming from Arab country

Sources:

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