No monkeypox cases detected in Egypt: Health Ministry Spox

CAIRO – 18 August 2024: No cases of monkeypox have been detected in Egypt yet, said Egyptian Minister of Health Spokesman Hossam Abdel Ghaffar in media comments on Sunday.

In remarks to the “6:00 PM” T.V. show on “Al-Hayat channel, the spokesman added that Egypt doesn’t have endemic monkeypox.

He added that the common symptoms of monkeypox are a rash, high temperature, sore throat, muscle pain, back pain, and swollen lymph nodes. The rash most commonly appears on the palms of the hands and around the genitals, he continued, noting that anyone who suffers from these symptoms should go to the nearest fever hospital for a medical examination.

The Spokesman, additionally, confirmed that Egypt has no epidemic of cholera.

On August 15, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a public health emergency of international concern over the escalating monkeypox outbreak, primarily centered in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This announcement, made by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, signifies the highest alert level under the International Health Regulations.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has been grappling with monkeypox for over a decade, with case numbers steadily increasing each year. The situation has worsened dramatically in the past year, surpassing the total number of cases reported in 2021. As of now, there have been over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths.