DAMASCUS, Jul.24, (ST)- The Ministry of Health confirmed on Sunday that Syria is free of monkeypox so far.
It indicated that the transmission of the disease is weak compared to Covid 19 and other diseases such as polio, measles and others.
The ministry said in a statement, published by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), that the health sector is in a proactive readiness by circulating the precautionary measures to be taken to all early surveillance and epidemiological investigation teams in all governorates and health workers at border crossings in particular.
The Ministry called on citizens not to circulate rumors and false information, and to obtain information exclusively from the Ministry of Health’s online platforms and national media.
Yesterday, The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the monkeypox outbreak in more than 70 countries an “emergency of international concern”.
The WHO label – a “public health emergency of international concern” – is designed to sound an alarm that a coordinated international response is needed and could unlock funding and global efforts to collaborate on sharing vaccines and treatments.
Governments are advised to raise awareness among doctors and hospitals, take protective measures in suspected cases and educate members of the population on how to protect themselves from infection.
Basma Qaddour