Iraq reinforces entry points to prevent monkeypox spread

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Ministry of Health has confirmed that no cases of monkeypox have been recorded in the country. Special teams have been deployed at entry points and airports to manage and monitor any suspected cases.

“We have not recorded any cases of this disease [monkeypox] so far. We have issued precautionary measures to all provinces, health departments, and medical staff, and necessary preparations have been made to handle any suspected cases,” Riyadh Abdul Amir, Director of the Public Health Department, told the Iraqi News Agency.

Abdul Amir elaborated on the measures being taken at border areas and transportation hubs. “There are teams deployed at border crossings and airports to monitor the disease in case symptoms appear that could suggest a traveler might be infected. If any suspected case is detected, the health teams will isolate the person, take samples for testing, and verify the situation. So far, no cases have been recorded,” he said.

Saif Al-Badr, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, also affirmed Iraq’s readiness to address potential outbreaks. “We affirm our ability to diagnose and contain any epidemic cases. There is a specialized center that follows up on these developments under the Public Health Department,” Al-Badr stated.

He added that the Ministry is in active coordination with international health bodies. “The Ministry of Health is coordinating with the World Health Organization and all relevant entities inside and outside Iraq on all developments, and the ministry’s institutions are capable of diagnosing and handling such cases,” Al-Badr explained.

This vigilance is part of a global response, following recent reports of monkeypox cases in Sweden and Pakistan, and the World Health Organization declaring the disease a global health emergency due to its resurgence in Africa. The epicenter of the current outbreak is the Democratic Republic of Congo, where more than 500 fatalities have been reported since the start of the year.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the global call to action on X, formerly Twitter, declaring, “We urge all countries to enhance surveillance, share data, and work towards a deeper understanding of the transmission dynamics; collaborate on tools like vaccines; and apply lessons learned from previous public health emergencies of international concern to address the current outbreak.”

Monkeypox, or mpox, spreads from infected animals to humans, akin to avian flu and coronavirus, and can transmit between humans through close skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact or proximity such as talking or breathing near an infected individual.

Symptoms of the disease typically commence with sudden high fever, severe headaches, and swollen lymph nodes, progressing to muscle aches, back pain, and fatigue, as outlined by the WHO. In 2022, the monkeypox virus spread to approximately 100 countries, with around 90,000 cases and 140 deaths globally, leading WHO to declare the situation a “public health emergency of international concern” in July of that year. The alert was lifted ten months later as conditions improved.