Azerbaijan's Ministry of Health reports no case of monkeypox in country Strict controls in place

Monkeypox is a very rare zoonotic viral disease and is transmitted to humans mainly from animals, according to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Health.

The Ministry noted that the incubation period of the disease can vary from 5 to 21 days, Caliber.Az reports.

The disease usually lasts 2-4 weeks. The catarrhal phenomena noted in the initial period (fever, severe headache, enlargement of lymph nodes), later pass into the period of rashes. Rashes, being at the same stage of development, cover the entire body. The rash, which persists for several days, heals with the simultaneous formation of scab and scar tissue in its place, it said.

The Ministry's statement said the infection is transmitted from person to person through damaged skin and mucous membranes as a result of prolonged close contact.

The sick person or persons in contact with the sick person are not considered infectious until the onset of clinical symptoms characteristic of the disease.

Monkeypox is usually a self-limiting disease, i.e. uncomplicated cases do not require any treatment. Since most patients have a mild case of monkeypox, symptomatic treatment is sufficient.

To date, not a single case of suspected monkeypox has been registered in Azerbaijan. Strict epidemiological control in this direction is carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization. In addition, appropriate resources are available to identify, diagnose and treat persons with suspected infection.

No cases of monkeypox infection have also been registered among patients of medical centres under the jurisdiction of the Management Union of Medical Territorial Units of Azerbaijan (TABIB), the Ministry said.

TABIB noted that samples are taken from patients suspected of infection and sent to the Republican Centre of Hygiene and Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health.

It is also noted that medical centres under TABIB’s jurisdiction have all necessary infrastructure and antiviral drugs to treat patients with viral diseases.

“Specialists from the Public Health and Reform Centre of the Ministry of Health and TƏBIB have drafted a clinical protocol for the diagnosis and treatment of monkeypox. This protocol, approved by the Ministry's Scientific and Medical Council Decision No. 12 of 14 June 2022, is intended for general practitioners, paediatricians, family physicians, emergency physicians, and specialists in infectious and skin and venereal diseases,” the statement said.