Despite the assurances of the World Health Organization, that it is possible to control the outbreak of monkeypox and stop the transmission of infection between humans, especially in countries where it has not spread, the Ministry of Health is working hard to raise its readiness, in anticipation of any emergency, despite its announcement that it is free of any infection, and according to health sources it will purchase 5,000 doses of the smallpox vaccine to enhance the stockpile.

The head of the infection risk team at the Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean at the World Health Organization, Dr. Abdel Nasser Abu Bakr, had confirmed earlier that the spread of monkeypox does not mean that we are in the process of a new epidemic like the Corona epidemic, reports a local Arabic daily.

He added that “monkeypox is not at all similar to corona, and that it is a disease that doctors know well, and treatments and vaccines are available and know how to prevent it.”

In light of the precautionary measures, the Ministry of Health circulated technical guidelines for health facilities to deal with cases of monkeypox infection, suspected, potential or confirmed cases, and contact cases, and the circular also specified the mechanism for reporting previous cases.

The mechanism for reporting an infected case

1 – The attending physician immediately reports the case by telephone to the nearest preventive center, and in writing on the “occurrence of an infectious disease” notification form, specifying the type of case (suspected/probable/confirmed of monkeypox) in the clinical diagnosis field, and sending it to the nearest preventive health center.

2 – The preventive health doctor in charge of the hospital or the preventive center shall notify the head of public health services in the health district.

3 – The head of public health services in the region sends a notification form “the occurrence of an infectious disease” to the liaison officer of the Infectious Diseases Control Department by telephone.

4 – The preventive health doctor in the hospital or preventive center fills out the investigation form for the case, follows up on the case’s final laboratory results, and sends it to the Infectious Diseases Control Department.

5 – In the event that the infection is confirmed, the preventive center affiliated to the residence of the case is notified, to take the precautionary measures that are customary for the contacts.

6 – The Infectious Diseases Control Department prepares a brief weekly report on the number of cases and their data, and the global epidemiological situation, and sends it to the Director of the Public Health Department.

Dealing with suspected cases

In the event that the treating doctor needs to book the case in the hospital, the preventive doctor in the hospital performs the following:

Fill out the case investigation form emphasizing the isolation of the case in designated isolation rooms, and following the instructions for preventing infection in this regard.

Follow up on the final laboratory results of the case in the event that the infection is confirmed, it will be dealt with according to the mechanism of dealing with confirmed cases.

In the event that the treating doctor does not need to book the case in the hospital, the preventive doctor in the hospital fills out the investigation form for the case, and conduct health education on the necessity of the case’s commitment to being at home, and not to go out and mix with others, throughout the treatment period prescribed by the treating physician, and follow the instructions for preventing infection in this regard.

Follow up on the final laboratory results of the case in the event the infection is confirmed, it will be dealt with according to the mechanism of dealing with confirmed cases.


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