Morocco’s health ministry announced that it had verified an mpox case in a man residing in Marrakech.
This is the first such finding since the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the current outbreak as a significant worldwide public health emergency last month.
That was a reaction to a novel virus type or clade that was spreading quickly throughout central Africa. The man’s variant has not been disclosed by the Moroccan authorities.
He is receiving treatment, according to the health ministry, and his status is stable.
Every person the man has interacted with is being tracked down by Moroccan authorities, who are also keeping an eye on their health. According to the statement issued on Thursday afternoon, none of them were exhibiting any symptoms.
Close contact with an infected person can result in the transmission of mpox.
It can also be transmitted by coming into contact with infected bedding, clothes, and towels, among other items.
The illness lasts for 14 to 21 days and can go away on its own. However, in certain instances, it can be lethal, especially for susceptible populations like young infants.
In severe cases, the lips, eyes, and genitalia are particularly vulnerable to lesions that affect the entire body. According to the WHO, treatment entails managing the rash, assisting with pain management, and averting consequences.
500 fatalities and more than 20,000 illnesses have been reported in 14 African nations as of 2024. With almost 5,000 cases so far this year, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is at the center of the outbreak.
Immunizations, which are believed to be a crucial step in stopping the spread, have reached the Democratic Republic of Congo, but it may take several weeks for them to reach the most afflicted districts in the east of the nation due to logistical difficulties.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that it was “clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives” when he proclaimed the outbreak a public health emergency on August 14.
Africa CDC and WHO started a plan for covering the mpox
WHO Approves Mpox Vaccine, Paving the Way for Use in Africa
First probable case of mpox reported in India; male patient kept in isolation
