Monkeypox: UAE’s isolation, quarantine procedures for positive cases, close contacts explained

Monkeypox: UAE’s isolation, quarantine procedures for positive cases, close contacts explained

Three new cases of the zoonotic disease were announced on May 29

Published: Mon 30 May 2022, 1:50 PM

The UAE has implemented a robust epidemiological surveillance system to rapidly detect all communicable diseases and viruses, including monkeypox.

The country’s Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHaP) announced three new cases of the zoonotic disease on May 29. It had detected its first monkeypox case on May 24 in a 29-year-old visitor from West Africa.

The ministry had on Sunday detailed the isolation and quarantine procedures for infected individuals and their close contacts. Citing a unified national medical guide, the authority said positive cases would be isolated in hospitals until they recover. Their close contacts would be required to quarantine at home for “no less than 21 days”.

The ministry said it would ensure that the close contacts are complying with the home isolation and monitor their health condition.

How is monkeypox detected?

According to the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), symptoms of the disease include fever, exhaustion, lymphadenopathy, back and muscle aches, intense headaches and skin rash, which usually begins after one to three days of fever.

Dr Shivani Anubhav Chaturvedi, clinical pathologist and lab director, Aster Diagnostic Centre, Sharjah, told Khaleej Times that samples are collected from skin