The Ministry of Health in Tanzania on Wednesday, raised awareness over the monkeypox disease which is fast spreading across the world.
The Ministry shared urged the general public to take caution against the viral disease, while highlighting its symptoms for easy identification.
Although the country is yet to record any cases, there have been series of reported cases within Europe and other parts of the world, promoting the World Health Organisation (WHO) to sound the alarm.
Speaking on the spread of the disease, Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Health, Godwin Mollel urged the public to take precautionary measures towards protecting themselves from coming in contact with the monkeypox and several other related diseases.
“There are no monkeypox patients in Tanzania, regardless, members of the public are cautioned to avoid touching [or] eating sick animals or carcass, as well as avoid touching anything that has been used by a sick animal,” he said.
According to the Ministry, strict guidelines are being observed to ensure residents are protected. Also, awareness on general cleanliness and other measures to avoid being infected are being put in place.
WHO announced the outbreak of monkeypox on May 16, 2022 in England, with reported cases in the UK totalling 78 as of May 24, 2022.
There have been over 237 confirmed and suspected cases of monkeypox outside its usual base Africa.
WHO has states that the “identification of confirmed and suspected cases of monkeypox with no direct travel links to an endemic area represents a highly unusual event.” Sadly, the number is likely to rise further if not curtailed.
However, they have noted that with the right amount of response, the disease can be contained in no time.
“We encourage you all to increase the surveillance of monkeypox to see where transmission levels are and understand where it is going,” the WHO’s director for Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness, Sylvie Briand, urged the general public at a conference which took place on Tuesday.
What is Monkeypox?
Monkeypox according to WHO, is a “viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) with symptoms very similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although it is clinically less severe.”
How is it spread?
Monkeypox virus is transmitted from one person to another by close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding. It takes 6 to 13 days to manifest, but can range from 5 to 21 days.
Symptoms of Monkeypox according to WHO.
1. Headache
2. Acute onset of fever (>38.5oC),
3. Lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes)
4. Myalgia (muscle and body aches)
Back pain
5. Asthenia (profound weakness)
6. Rashes that eventually turn to scabs.
The general public have been urged to dig more on the virus, and visit the hospital immediately they suspect any symptoms.