Egypt’s Health Ministry issued new instructions on Monday to health directorates across the country as a guide to confront mpox (monkeypox) after it was officially declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the African Union.
The Ministry stressed the need to tighten control in quarantine at airports and ports and target any person of any age with vesicular rashes such as chickenpox, herpes, shingles, bacterial skin infection and gonorrhea rash.
In its new guideline, the Health Ministry singled out people who had contact with a confirmed case within 21 days before the onset of symptoms, or traveled to a country infected with monkeypox during the same period, in addition to those who have been detected with antibodies to the Orthopox virus within four to 56 days after the appearance of the rash.
The Ministry of Health identified the following symptoms of the disease:
- Fever above 38.5.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
- Headache.
- Body and muscle aches.
- Back pain.
- General weakness.
The WHO has sounded the alarm against the spread of monkeypox, especially in Africa.
Several countries around the world have announced the discovery of monkeypox cases and are working urgently to inform the WHO, which in turn has called on local health departments to tighten their procedures in dealing with those coming from countries where monkeypox was reported.
