The first case of viral monkeypox has been reported in the United Arab Emirates. According to the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, the virus was found in a 29-year-old tourist from West Africa. The patient is currently receiving the necessary medical care.
The ministry assured residents that it adheres to all necessary safety measures, including contact tracking and further monitoring of the disease. Earlier, the agency tightened local epidemiological surveillance in the country and introduced methods for diagnosing patients with suspected monkeypox virus.
What is monkeypox?
Smallpox is a rare infection that is usually carried by wild animals in central and western Africa. This virus can be contracted from rodents such as rats, mice, and proteins, from contact with blood, biological fluids, and the meat of an infected animal (in violation of cooking technology).
How is monkeypox transmitted?
Transmission from person to person occurs by household contact and airborne droplets, ie by touching the infected, her underwear or towel, coughing or sneezing. The incubation period is from 5 to 21 days.
Symptoms of monkeypox
Symptoms of the disease include fever, headache and muscle aches, back pain, tremors and chills, loss of appetite, and others. The secondary symptom is a rash in the form of blisters on the face and body. Symptoms usually disappear after two to four weeks.
The ministry urged the public not to spread rumors, to use the information only from official sources, and to follow the instructions of local health authorities.