Ministry of Health monitors monkeypox outbreak in Africa and updates monitoring and response plans.. Details

Agadir24 | Agadir24/A.M.E

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection reported that it is closely monitoring the epidemiological situation of monkeypox (M-pox), which is currently spreading rapidly and rapidly in a number of African countries, within the framework of the international epidemiological monitoring system.

The ministry said in a statement, on Thursday, August 15, 2024, that it has also updated the national plan for monitoring and responding to this epidemic, in accordance with the development of the international epidemiological situation, as well as the development of the level of knowledge about this disease, as well as the recommendations of the World Health Organization.

The same source added that a national proactive plan has been in place and activated since June 2022, noting that this plan “has enabled the detection of 5 cases until March of this year, most of which were imported and did not result in infections among contacts. They were also characterized by being mild from a medical standpoint and recovered completely without any complications.” The ministry reassured all citizens regarding the level of vigilance and preparedness in Morocco, stressing that it will continue to communicate and inform of any new developments.

The statement said that the Director-General of the World Health Organization, in accordance with the provisions of the International Health Regulations (IHR-2005), had announced yesterday that the M-Box disease had become a public health emergency of international concern, and that the rapid spread of this epidemic since last year, and the high fatality rate recorded in one of the African countries, require global effort and cooperation to limit its spread.

He pointed out that this announcement regarding “M-Box” is the second of its kind within two years, as the World Health Organization had previously classified this disease as a public health emergency of international concern during the period extending from July 2022 to May 2023, with cases continuing to be reported around the world to this day.