Ministry of Health: Syria is free of monkeypox

Damascus, (ST) – The Ministry of Health announced that Syria is free of monkeypox. It stressed that the health sector is in proactive readiness by circulating the precautionary measures that must be taken – two years ago – to all early detection and epidemiological investigation teams in all governorates, and health workers at border crossings in particular.

The ministry explained in a statement, that it recently re-circulated the need to tighten measures upon the second announcement by the World Health Organization on August 14, 2024,  pointing out that the significant increase in the spread of monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a number of countries in Africa constitutes a public health emergency of international concern under the International Health Regulations.

The ministry called on citizens not to circulate rumors and misinformation, and to obtain information related to public health matters exclusively from the Ministry of Health’s platforms on the Internet and national media.

The ministry explained that monkeypox is a rare viral disease of animal origin, and the first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in subsequent years, monkeypox outbreaks spread in Central and West Africa.

The disease can be prevented through the same precautionary measures against Covid-19, such as wearing a mask when there is no possibility of physical distancing or when there is suspicion of dealing with an infected person – washing hands – disinfecting surfaces and avoiding contact with animals, especially rodents, isolating infected people, treating symptoms and tracking contacted people.

Raghda Sawas