Azerbaijan remains free of Monkeypox infection
Image Credit: Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland
Baku, The Gulf Observer: Azerbaijan remains free of monkeypox infection amid more new cases identified worldwide.
The country’s healthcare ministry has reported that the overall situation in the country is stable, and the epidemiological situation is under control. Healthcare officials have not yet administered the use of the diagnostic tests recently supplied by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Earlier this month, the WHO delivered 3,000 diagnostic tests to Azerbaijan in response to the country’s appeal. The test kits have been transferred to the Center for Control of Particularly Dangerous Infections under the healthcare ministry.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Georgia, Russia and Türkiye have already reported monkeypox cases within their borders.
An ongoing outbreak of monkeypox was confirmed in May 2022, starting with a series of cases in the United Kingdom. The first case was discovered on May 6, 2022 in a person traveling to Nigeria, where the disease is endemic. Since May 18, various countries and regions began to witness an uptick in cases.
As of July 15, 2022, more than 11,500 people have contracted the monkeypox virus in 63 countries worldwide, up from just over 6,000 as of July 4. Eighty percent of the total cases have been registered in European countries. Three people have died from the virus so far.
WHO authorities are about to convene a second emergency meeting amid the rapid spread of the virus, which has already been reported on almost every continent.
