The Preventive Medicine Department at the Ministry of Public Health issued a statement regarding monkeypox, noting that "due to the outbreak of monkeypox in some African countries, and since the World Health Organization has declared the disease a public health emergency of international concern, and in accordance with scientific recommendations from the organization and the directives from the Minister of Public Health, the Preventive Medicine Department is keen to emphasize the following:
- The Ministry of Public Health is closely monitoring all developments related to the disease in cooperation with the World Health Organization and scientific committees.
- The ministry confirms that no new cases of the disease have been recorded in Lebanon since March.
- The Ministry of Public Health is enhancing the surveillance system through early detection and rapid diagnosis of cases.
- There are currently no recommendations from the World Health Organization for special measures at border crossings.
Additionally, the ministry would like to remind everyone about the disease, its symptoms, and how to prevent it through the following:
- Monkeypox is a contagious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. Most people recover completely within two to four weeks. However, it can lead to severe complications, and sometimes death, in specific groups (immunocompromised individuals, those with chronic illnesses, children, pregnant women, etc.).
- The disease spreads through:
- Contact with infected individuals through touching, kissing, or sexual contact.
- Contact with contaminated materials such as bedding or clothing.
- Short-range respiratory droplets from prolonged close interactions with infected individuals.
- Pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, where a pregnant woman can transmit the disease to her fetus or during childbirth, or from a parent to an infant/child during close contact.
- Certain community environments such as tattooing or beauty salons.
- Contact with infected animals, especially when hunting, skinning, or cooking them.
- Monkeypox causes symptoms that may appear one to three weeks after transmission and usually last from two to four weeks. However, they may last longer in immunocompromised individuals. Common symptoms include:
- Headache, fever, sore throat
- Rashes in any part of the body, including the mouth or throat (which can be one or more skin lesions)
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Muscle aches, back pain, fatigue
- If someone is diagnosed with the disease, they should heed the following:
- Inform anyone they have recently had close contact with about their infection.
- Stay at home (in a separate room if possible) until all rashes have dried and a new layer of skin has formed. When it is necessary to be around others, maintain at least one meter of distance.
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer, especially before and after touching sores or skin lesions.
- Cover skin lesions and wear a tight mask when around others.
- Avoid touching items in shared spaces. Disinfect them regularly if interaction has occurred.
- Avoid physical/sexual contact.
- Wash your clothes, linens, and towels yourself by carefully placing them in a plastic bag without shaking them, then wash them in hot water above 60 degrees Celsius. If someone else must do this, they should wear a tight medical mask and single-use gloves and follow the same washing precautions, disposing of the mask, gloves, and used bags in a tightly sealed trash bag after finishing.
- Encourage everyone in the household to regularly clean their hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Open windows for good ventilation.
- An infected person remains contagious until all rashes have healed and a new layer of skin has formed.
- If you are traveling and experience any disease symptoms one to three weeks after your return, seek medical attention immediately and inform the doctor that you have been traveling."
