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Rabat – The UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention confirmed on Sunday three new cases of monkeypox, bringing to 16 the Gulf country’s total number of infections.
Emirati health authorities have urged citizens to follow appropriate preventive measures, take precautions while traveling, and avoid large crowds.
In a statement, the ministry noted that authorities “are taking all necessary measures including investigation, examination of contacts, and follow-up,” in order to curb any further spread of the virus.
The UAE registered its first case of monkeypox virus on May 16. Worldwide, there have been over 16,000 cases in more than 70 countries, according to the US Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC).
Europe, the world’s most affected region, has 11,865 Monkeypox cases.
With the number of cases surging worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared on Saturday the monkeypox outbreak as a global health emergency.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “In short, we have an outbreak that has spread around the world rapidly through new modes of transmission about which we understand too little and which meets the criteria in the international health regulations.”
The virus has been constantly spreading in several countries for months now. Countries in West and Central Africa, where the virus has been causing intermittent epidemics for decades, have experienced a significant surge in Monkeypox cases in the past three months.
Despite sounding the alarm over the spread of the virus, the WHO chief has noted that Monkeypox is unlikely to disrupt international trade or travel for the moment.
The UN agency and the US CDC have both repeatedly warned against stigma and discrimination against Monkeypox patients, calling on the international community to protect individuals’ fundamental rights as they respond to the virus.
Read Also: WHO Declares Monkeypox Outbreak a Global Health Emergency
