UAE : First Gulf state to record monkeypox case

May 27, 2022

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) became the first Gulf country to record a case of monkeypox. The case was detected in a traveler who had recently visited the West African region.

Which other countries reported monkeypox cases?

The Czech Republic and Slovenia also reported their first cases recently. Outbreaks of monkeypox have been found in Europe, Australia, and America. Around 20 countries detected monkeypox outside its usual African base.

What is monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused due to monkeypox virus. It was first discovered in 1958. The first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Later it was reported in several African countries including Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, and Sierra Leone.
It is named monkeypox because the outbreak was discovered in colonies where monkeys were kept for research. The symptoms include fever and rash. This is followed by a rash that forms blisters. Children, pregnant women, or people with suppressed immunity are particularly vulnerable to the disease. The smallpox vaccine can prevent infection with 85% effectiveness. In 2019, a monkeypox vaccine was approved for adults in the USA. Also, an antiviral called tecovirimat is approved for the treatment of monkeypox in the European Union (EU) and the USA.

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