UAE records three more monkeypox infections a week after first case

The United Arab Emirates recorded three more cases of monkeypox, the health ministry said on Monday, nearly a week after announcing the Gulf state's first case of the virus.

The ministry did not reveal any details about the individuals infected. However, the first case was a 29-year-old woman visiting the country from West Africa, who is reportedly receiving medical treatment, according to Ministry of Health and Prevention.

The UAE is believed to be just the second Middle Eastern after Israel country to detect monkeypox, a disease whose appearance in a number of countries has caused alarm after the coronavirus pandemic.

Israel detected its first case over a week ago, with the infected person being a 30-year-old man returning from a trip in western Europe.

Meanwhile, Morocco has recorded three suspected cases with common symptoms - also a week ago - with the Ministry of Health  stressing that "no case has been confirmed until the moment".

Monkeypox is an infectious disease that is usually mild, and is endemic in parts of west and central Africa, and is not usually fatal.

The virus can cause a fever, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion and a chickenpox-like rash on the hands and face, and can be transmitted through contact with skin lesions or droplets of bodily fluid from an infected person.

The World Health Organization says nearly 200 cases of monkeypox have been reported in more than 20 countries - mostly in Europe- but described the epidemic as "containable" and proposed creating a stockpile to equitably share the limited vaccines and drugs available worldwide.

(Reuters)