The Africa Centres for Disease Control declared a health emergency across the African continent on Tuesday after monkeypox cases were reported in 16 countries so far, with the disease entering some countries for the first time.
Immediately after this announcement, the National Center for Disease Control announced a package of urgent measures for international health control offices at all land, sea and air ports of the State of Libya, with raising the state of alert and readiness for the monitoring and rapid response network throughout the country, as well as ensuring the readiness of community health laboratories and the community health emergency room to follow up on the situation and report any suspected cases for the safety of all.
The center reassured that so far no case has been recorded in Libya, and stressed that all departments are ready to confront this disease and take all necessary measures for the safety of citizens and residents in accordance with its jurisdiction throughout the country.
Monkeypox is a rare disease, part of the same family as smallpox, although it is usually less severe.
The virus generally occurs in remote parts of central and western Africa, and the first human case was recorded in 1970. Since then, sporadic cases have been reported in 10 African countries, including Nigeria, which in 2017 experienced the largest documented outbreak, with 172 suspected cases and 61 confirmed cases.
Historically, cases outside Africa have been less common, and have usually been associated with international travel or imported animals.
Last update: August 15, 2024 – 18:38
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2024-08-16 16:33:49