Set 21 days to quarantine suspects

Abu Dhabi Health Authority updates a protocol for isolating monkeypox patients

Symptoms of monkeypox usually last two to four weeks.

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The Department of Health in Abu Dhabi announced the update of the procedures for dealing with monkeypox cases in the emirate (case definition, isolation protocol, dealing with contacts, laboratory protocol, in addition to infection control procedures), after the World Health Organization was informed about groups of monkeypox outbreaks. In several countries outside the African continent, which is the region where the virus is endemic.

In a circular sent to health care providers in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the department confirmed that initial epidemiological investigations indicate the possibility of transmission of the disease between people through direct and intimate contact with infected cases, noting that it is within the framework of continuous efforts to preserve public health and community well-being and in line with the policies of the Department of Health. And the Abu Dhabi Center, all health facilities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi must coordinate the efforts of their medical staff to enhance active epidemiological surveillance to discover potential infections and deal with them according to the definition of the case, the isolation protocol, dealing with contacts, and the laboratory protocol, in addition to infection control procedures.

The department stressed the need to exclude other diseases that cause skin rashes, such as chickenpox, shingles, and herpes simplex clinically or by laboratory examination, whenever possible, and to report any suspected, probable or confirmed case through the electronic notification system for communicable diseases.

The department identified the suspected cases as any person suffering from an acute onset of a skin rash or unexplained fever (38.5 degrees Celsius), or two or more symptoms of the disease, which include headache, enlarged lymph nodes (enlarged lymph nodes), and myalgia (muscular pain / pain). body), back pain, and asthenia (severe weakness).

She indicated that the probable case is for a person who meets the definition of a suspected case and has an epidemiological link to a probable or confirmed case of monkeypox in 21 days before the onset of symptoms, or a history of travel to a monkeypox-infected country was reported in the 21 days before symptoms appeared, or who had partners Multiple or unknown sexes within 21 days before the onset of symptoms, while the infection case is confirmed after matching the definition of a suspected or probable case and laboratory confirmation by detection of unique sequences of viral DNA of monkeypox virus.

The department also indicated that the protocol for isolating people with monkeypox requires the cases that have been confirmed to be isolated in a hospital designated for this by the health authorities, where isolation precautions must continue until recovery is confirmed without the patient leaving before all the rash lesions have healed (healed). and dry) and has no other symptoms or complications related to the disease, and symptoms may last from two to four weeks).

The protocol stressed the importance of starting to identify and track contacts with confirmed cases as soon as a suspected case is identified, as the quarantine must be for a period of 21 days from the last contact with the confirmed case, during which symptoms of the disease are monitored, and contacts during the 21-day period are prohibited from donating blood or cells Or tissues, organs, breast milk or semen, while the person who shows signs of primary symptoms other than the rash must be isolated and closely monitored, and in the event that no rash appears, the temperature can be monitored for the remaining 21 days, and if the contact person is infected With a skin rash, it must be isolated and evaluated as a suspected case, and a sample should be taken from it for laboratory analysis.

Causes of infection

The Department of Health in Abu Dhabi has warned of the possibility of monkeypox being transmitted directly from the infected person to other people through direct contact with skin ulcers, body fluids, and respiratory droplets, or indirectly upon contact with contaminated materials, in addition to the possibility of transmission of the disease through sexual contact. .

She stressed that early detection of monkeypox virus and combating the spread of infection are effective ways to reduce infection and prevent disease, noting that it is constantly coordinating with the health authorities in the country to implement all strict preventive measures with regard to infectious diseases to preserve the public health of members of society.

• The protocol stressed the importance of identifying and tracing contacts of confirmed cases as soon as a suspected case is identified.

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