Presence of Monkeypox cases raises concern about Baboons in Saudi Arabia

The disease has not been detected in the Saudi Kingdom, which is primarily impacted in Europe. As the world prepares for a monkeypox pandemic, actors in Saudi Arabia have urged authorities to strictly limit the expanding population of baboons in specified places.

The virus has been reported in over two dozen nations, the majority of which are in Europe. The Saudi people have requested tighter control of baboon-infested areas in the western governorate of Taif, along a road leading to Mecca.

People who stop to feed baboons and photograph their visits have been blamed for the species' spread. Baboons have recently attacked residences, according to reports in Saudi media. According to the complainants, monkeypox prevention requires round-the-clock supervision by the organisations involved to prevent baboons from acquiring food.

Specialists believe that public awareness initiatives about the dangers of baboons to human health are critical now that monkeypox is widespread.

According to Mohammed Al Yami, a spokesman for the Saudi National Centre for Wildlife, three months ago the Saudi National Centre for Wildlife launched a programme to assess the harm caused by baboon proliferation in areas of the kingdom's western and southern regions, intending to find "appropriate" solutions to limit the environmental, health, social, and economic consequences.

"Whether or not baboons are associated with monkeypox is a matter for the Health Ministry," he explained.

Although no verified cases of smallpox have been reported in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Health has said that it is prepared to deal with any such occurrences.

Infectious diseases, according to specialists, can be transferred through personal contact between people or by contact with infected objects such as clothing.