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The Ministry of Health confirmed today that the tests of the three suspected monkeypox virus cases identified in Morocco earlier this week came out negative.
This means Morocco has not recorded any confirmed monkeypox cases to date, the ministry said in a statement, noting that the analysis to confirm whether the cases are negative or positive took place at the Ibn Sina military hospital in Marrakech.
The health ministry on Monday announced it had detected three monkeypox cases. While the ministry’s Monday announcement provided no further details about the status of the suspected cases, it reassured citizens that the three individuals were in stable condition and did not present any severe symptoms or worrying signs.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently said that the situation is evolving due to the spread of the virus in several countries. At least 17 countries confirmed cases of monkeypox, and the WHO has acknowledged that it is expecting more cases as the virus expands worldwide.
The countries where monkeypox has so far been confirmed include Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and the UK, among others.
Symptoms of the rare disease range between fever, intense headache, back pain, low energy, as well as a skin rash. They can last between two days to a month.
Read also: Experts Call for Carefulness, Not Panic Over Monkeypox
According to the WHO, the symptoms can go away without treatment. “In some individuals, they can lead to medical complications and even death,” said the global health body. As with most epidemics, the most vulnerable populations to the virus are newborns, children, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems.
Moroccan health policy and systems researcher Tayeb Himdi has urged Moroccans not to panic amid mounting fears over the spread of monkeypox, saying that it has been a known disease for over 70 years.
It is only transmitted in the case of close contact with an infected person, exchanging clothes, among others.
In addition to reassuring citizens and urging against wrong-headed or unnecessary panic, Morocco’s health ministry has set in motion a detection and response mechanism to contain the spread of the new virus.
In a note it sent to doctors across the country on May 20, the ministry provided ample details about the virus and Morocco’s strategy to curb its spread.
The ministry stressed the importance of respecting preventive measures, including hygiene, social distancing, and not sharing personal items with others. It also noted that any suspected case should be reported immediately to public or private health institutions, who are responsible for contacting regional health authorities to verify the case and initiate the appropriate epidemiological investigation.
