Moroccan health authorities announced the first confirmed case of monkeypox, in a man in Marrakech, noting that the patient is in a stable health condition that does not call for concern.
The Moroccan Ministry of Health stated in a statement on Thursday that “the case was discovered within the health protocol adopted in the Kingdom since the beginning of this global health alert, as the infected person received the necessary health care in one of the specialized medical centers in the city of Marrakech, and he is in a stable health condition that does not call for concern.”
The World Health Organization has declared the recent outbreak a public health emergency of international concern after the new variant was identified.
According to the ministry’s statement: “The infected person is receiving appropriate medical care in accordance with approved health procedures, and is subject to close medical monitoring to ensure the stability of his condition. The necessary health isolation and medical follow-up procedures have been activated in accordance with national and international health standards.”
The Ministry of Health confirmed that it will continue to communicate with the national public opinion and inform it of all developments related to the epidemiological situation regularly, as it has done since the beginning of this global health alert.
The ministry called on Moroccans to adhere to the recommended preventive measures, such as washing hands regularly, avoiding direct contact with infected or suspected people, and maintaining personal hygiene.
In turn, the World Health Organization announced on Friday that it had granted the first license to use the monkeypox vaccine “Mpox” for adults, describing it as an important step towards combating the disease in Africa and beyond.
“This first initial authorization of a monkeypox vaccine is an important step in our fight against the disease, both in the context of the current outbreak in Africa and in the future,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Under the WHO license, the vaccine can be given to people aged 18 and over as a two-dose regimen. The license says that while the vaccine is not currently licensed for people under 18, it may be used for infants, children and adolescents “in outbreak settings where the benefits of vaccination outweigh the potential risks.”
Last updated: September 14, 2024 – 11:41
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2024-09-15 06:13:17