On Tuesday, the United Arab Emirates’ health officials identified a young woman who had traveled from West Africa as the country’s first case of monkeypox.
Authorities were monitoring the patient’s contacts and “taking all required precautions” to avoid the spread of monkeypox, according to the government’s limited information release.
The statement did not specify where in the seven-sheikhdom federation the case was discovered, which includes Abu Dhabi and Dubai, a popular tourist destination.
The diagnosis by the United Arab Emirates is the first in the Arabian Peninsula. This week, Israel reported the first known case in the Middle East. Over 100 cases have been discovered worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
Previously, cases of smallpox-related sickness were restricted to those with ties to Central and West Africa. Infections have been reported in the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the United States, Sweden, and Canada, primarily in young guys who have never visited Africa. In France, Germany, Belgium, and Australia, cases have also been documented.
Most people who contract the virus from monkeys or other wild animals have fever, muscle aches, chills, and tiredness. A rash and lesions on the face, hands, and other regions of the body may develop in severe cases.